The former Spanish association president Luis Rubiales is threatened with a prison sentence after the abusive kiss during the Women’s World Cup. The Spanish public prosecutor’s office is demanding two and a half years in prison for the 46-year-old who inappropriately kissed national player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth at the award ceremony after the World Cup final victory.
This emerges from court documents, copies of which are available to the AFP news agency. A year in prison was requested for sexual aggression in the form of a non-consensual kiss and one and a half years in prison for coercion.
In addition, according to the public prosecutor’s office, Rubiales should pay Hermoso compensation of at least 50,000 euros. There was initially no confirmation from the judiciary. A date for the oral hearing has not been announced. In Spain, prison sentences of up to two years are usually suspended.
Investigations into another case
The incident on August 20, 2023, a few minutes after Spain’s World Cup triumph in Australia, caused international outrage. Under pressure, Rubiales resigned from his position in September and the world association FIFA banned the Spaniard for three years.
Rubiales is also being investigated in a separate case for corruption in connection with his association activities. The ex-president has been in the Dominican Republic for some time, where he works for national associations – primarily for baseball due to his FIFA ban. He faces arrest when he returns from a stay abroad.
