Spanish Court Pursues Over 2-Year Sentence for Luis Rubiales in Assault Case

Thursday 28 March 2024 - 14:45

In a development reverberating through the Spanish sporting realm, the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Audiencia Nacional (AN) has called for a two-and-a-half-year prison term for former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales. The charges stem from a notorious incident wherein Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent, following the Spanish women's national football team's World Cup victory in Australia last August.

The incident, which triggered outrage across Spain and beyond, has been classified as sexual assault by the prosecutor's office. As reported by the Spanish sports daily AS, the prosecution seeks to bar Rubiales from involvement in the sports industry for two years post-conviction. Additionally, they demand he compensate Hermoso with a substantial sum of 50,000 euros for damages.

Marta Durantez, the deputy prosecutor of the AN, vividly recounted the events, alleging that Rubiales "held her head" with both hands and "kissed her on the lips" during the World Cup medal presentation. Durantez asserts that this act was "surprising and without consent or acceptance" from Jenni Hermoso.

Expressing her distress over the incident, Hermoso told the media that she felt "vulnerable as an assault victim" after the unsolicited kiss. In a social media statement, she described Rubiales' actions as "reckless, masculine, out of place, and without any kind of consent on my part."

Moreover, the Spanish athlete accused Rubiales of coercing her into publicly defending him amid the uproar, a charge that prosecutors consider coercion. However, Rubiales maintains that the kiss was consensual and pledges to continue his defense.

In Spanish law, sexual assault encompasses various acts from rape to online abuse, each carrying distinct sanctions. Non-consensual kissing carries a fine or a maximum sentence of four years in jail, emphasizing the severity of the allegations against Rubiales.

As legal proceedings unfold, Rubiales faces investigation by the Court of Instruction Number 4 of the Spanish municipality Majadahonda, probing contracts related to the European Super Cup and the La Cartuja stadium renovation.

This case has cast a significant shadow over the Spanish footballing community, prompting crucial discussions about consent, accountability, and the treatment of women in sports. As the nation awaits the court's decision, the resounding call for justice and a zero-tolerance policy towards such misconduct reverberates throughout the sporting world and beyond.