Devendra Kumar
Spanish prosecutors have announced their intentions to seek a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for former Football Association (FA) chief Luis Rubiales over the infamous “Kissgate” scandal. The scandal centers around an alleged non-consensual kiss Rubiales bestowed upon footballer Jenni Hermoso during the awards ceremony following the Women’s World Cup final last August. Hermoso accused Rubiales of a sexual assault, and a Madrid-based judge, Francisco de Jorge, recommended him to be tried earlier this year after concluding that Rubiales’ actions were potentially illegal.
According to de Jorge, the investigation uncovered “solid evidence” pointing to the potential illegality of the kiss. The judge determined that Hermoso was left “bewildered and surprised” by the unexpected kiss, which was met with a mixture of euphoria and excitement due to the extraordinary sporting triumph preceding it. De Jorge further proposed that three other individuals, including former Spain’s World Cup women’s team manager Jorge Vilda, men’s team director Albert Luque, and former Spanish FA marketing director Ruben Rivera, should face trial due to their alleged attempts to “break Jennifer Hermoso’s will and get her to agree to record a video saying the kiss had been consensual.”
Rubiales has consistently denied any wrongdoing, claiming the kiss was consensual and describing it as a “peck.” Prosecutors, on the other hand, are seeking to prove that Rubiales pressured Hermoso into publicly supporting him and attempted to coerce her into recording a video proclaiming the kiss as consensual. The court has heard testimony from various individuals, including Vilda, Luque, and Rivera, who allegedly played a role in Rubiales’ attempts to get Hermoso to recant her allegations.
In a six-page indictment made public, prosecutors outlined their demands, seeking a one-year jail term for a sexual assault charge and a separate one-year six-month prison sentence for coercion. If convicted, Vilda, Luque, and Rivera could face prison sentences of one year and six months. Rubiales, who is currently residing in the Dominican Republic, has promised to return to Spain shortly and has vowed to “defend his innocence” throughout the trial.
The court’s judge, Francisco de Jorge, concluded that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a trial, and prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales, citing the seriousness of the alleged crime. The case has sparked widespread outrage and shock, with many individuals and organizations denouncing Rubiales’ alleged behavior and calling for accountability. The trial is set to begin soon, with Rubiales defense team preparing to contest the charges.