MADRID — The former president of the Spanish football federation is set to stand trial this Monday, facing charges of sexual assault stemming from a controversial kiss he gave to forward Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup final in 2023.
Hermoso has stated that the kiss was nonconsensual, overshadowing the celebrations for the women’s team victory. The incident not only provoked significant backlash in the realm of sports but also sparked a broader societal outcry, marking a notable scandal in Spanish football history.
In addition to the kiss, Rubiales exhibited inappropriate behavior by making an indecent gesture while in the company of Spain’s Queen Letizia and Princess Sofia during the post-match festivities. Despite his claims of innocence and allegations of being the target of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists,” Rubiales was compelled to resign and subsequently banned from any official capacities by FIFA. He continues to assert that the kiss was consensual.
Rubiales, 47, faces allegations of sexual assault and of attempting to manipulate Hermoso into supporting him publicly. A judge has determined that the kiss was “unconsented and executed unilaterally and unexpectedly.” If found guilty, Rubiales could face penalties ranging from a fine to a prison sentence of one to four years. Furthermore, a recent legal reform has blurred the lines between “sexual harassment” and “sexual assault,” criminalizing any unwanted sexual act. Prosecutors, backed by Hermoso and Spain’s players’ association, are advocating for a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, a monetary compensation of €50,000 (approximately $51,800) for damages, and a prohibition on Rubiales from holding any sports-related roles. Hermoso is also seeking a restraining order to keep Rubiales away from her.
In a broader scope, the trial will include additional defendants, such as former Spain women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, former sports director of Spain’s men’s team Albert Luque, and the federation’s ex-marketing head, Rubén Rivera. They are accused of pressuring Hermoso to defend Rubiales, a request she declined. All involved maintain their innocence. The judge ruled that there is ample evidence suggesting Rubiales attempted to coerce Hermoso into recording a video amidst the public outcry regarding his actions. The judge also indicated that Vilda may have pressured Hermoso’s brother, with Luque and Rivera participating in pressuring Hermoso to support their disgraced leader.
The trial is anticipated to last a minimum of ten days, with Hermoso slated to testify on the opening day. Nearly twenty other witnesses are expected to take the stand, including the coach of Spain’s men’s national team, Luis de la Fuente, and several of Hermoso’s teammates from the women’s national squad, such as former world player of the year Alexia Putellas. Court regulations stipulate that Rubiales must appear only on the initial and concluding days of the trial, while the four defendants are likely to speak toward the trial’s conclusion next week. Rubiales’ daughters are also expected to provide testimony during the proceedings.
In the wake of the scandal, Hermoso and her teammates refused to participate as long as Rubiales remained in power but agreed to rejoin the team after the government intervened. This led to an agreement with the interim president of the federation aimed at restructuring operations and enhancing support for the women’s team, including dropping the term “women’s” from the team’s official title. Following the incident, FIFA imposed a three-year ban on Rubiales which will lapse after the upcoming men’s World Cup in 2026, just before the next women’s tournament in 2027. Additionally, Spain’s sports authority deemed him unfit for a managerial position in sports for a three-year period.
Rubiales has faced further issues related to his time as president of the Spanish football governing body, notably revamping the Spanish Super Cup format in 2020, converting it into a four-team mini-tournament, and relocating it to Saudi Arabia under a lucrative deal reportedly worth €40 million (then around $42 million) per tournament. Investigations into this deal began in 2022, sparked by leaked audio revealing conversations between Rubiales and former Barcelona player Gerard Piqué concerning substantial commission payments. Both Piqué’s sports entertainment company, Kosmos, and Rubiales have denied any wrongdoing.
