Rubiales to face trial for unwanted WC kiss: Judge Fiorentina book Conference League final place with draw against Brugge Atletico win appeal over racist abuse sanction
MADRID: Disgraced former Spanish football federation (RFEF) chief Luis Rubiales will stand trial for his forcible kiss on the lips of Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, a Spanish high court judge decided on Wednesday.
“(Rubiales will be tried) for the non-consensual kissing of Spanish national team player Jennifer Hermoso at the end of the World Cup final in Sydney on Aug.20 (2023), and for the subsequent coercion exerted to make her say publicly that it was consensual,” the court said in a statement outlining the allegations.
The trial will be held at the Audiencia Nacional, a Madrid court in charge of complex cases, on a date yet to be set, said Judge Francisco de Jorge in the court document.
Public prosecution has requested a sentence of two-and-a-half years in prison for Luis Rubiales -- one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion.
The prosecution is also asking for two years’ probation once the sentence has been served and for him to pay 50,000 euros ($54,000) in compensation to the player.
Judge De Jorge asked Luis Rubiales to post bail of 65,000 euros ($70,000) within 24 hours to cover “any civil liabilities he may be ordered to pay”.
The judge also confirmed that former La Roja women’s coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials would also face trial for alleged coercion of Hermoso.
Rubiales, 46, provoked worldwide outrage by giving Hermoso an unsolicited kiss during the medal ceremony after Spain beat England to win the World Cup in Australia last year.
The former RFEF chief, also under investigation in a separate alleged corruption case involving his reign at the federation, has denied any wrongdoing.
Spanish World Cup-winning star Hermoso has told a judge that the kiss forced on her by disgraced former Spanish football chief Rubiales was “at no point consensual” and that she had come under pressure to defend his actions.
Hermoso was at the Madrid court earlier to give her version of the kiss following Spain’s victory over England in the final in Sydney in August.
The 33-year-old went to testify before Judge Francisco de Jorge, who is investigating Rubiales on allegations of sexual assault and coercion.
“Now, everything is in the hands of the justice system and that’s all I can say,” she told reporters on leaving court several hours later.
BRUGES: Fiorentina reached a second consecutive Europa Conference League final on Wednesday thanks to a late penalty which earned the Italians a draw at Club Brugge and sent them through 4-3 on aggregate.
Lucas Beltran forced a penalty past Simon Mignolet’s fingertips in the 85th minute as Fiorentina came back from Maxim de Cuyper’s opener to restore their one-goal lead from the first leg of the semi-final and book their place in the final on May 29 in Athens.
Fiorentina now have the opportunity to avenge last year’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham when they face either England’s Aston Villa or Greek side Olympiakos in the final.
“It’s a great journey, I am very happy... we go to the final again,” said Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano.
After edging the first leg 3-2 at home thanks to M’bala Nzola’s 91st-minute winner, Fiorentina left it late again in Bruges as they squeezed past the hosts in a seesaw encounter.
With 20 minutes on the clock, De Cuyper ghosted in as Hans Vanaken whipped the ball into the danger zone and appeared to get the merest of glances off his thigh as the ball drifted into the far corner to give the home side the lead.
Fiorentina nearly struck back immediately to restore their aggregate lead. Nicolas Gonzalez missed a one-on-one with Mignolet before Beltran dragged his follow-up effort agonisingly wide of the target.
The hosts had a good opportunity to take the lead on aggregate just before the half-hour but fine recovery defending by Dodo cut out Thiago’s dangerous cross.
As an open game continued, Fiorentina came within inches of equalising three times when Cristiano Biraghi and Christian Kouame twice hit the woodwork either side of half-time with Mignolet beaten on each occasion.
The breakthrough for Fiorentina came with eight minutes remaining.
A spot-kick was given when substitute Nzola stooped for a header and the referee adjudged Brandon Mechele’s foot to be high.
Beltran stepped up and duly slotted home the penalty, although Mignolet sprawled to his right and got fingertips to the ball as it crept over the line.
Tensions frayed and Brugge’s Denis Odoi picked up a second booking, after having been subbed off, to pick up a red card.
One last gilt-edged chance did come Brugge’s way, but Pietro Terracciano was equal to it as he made a smart save to deny Vanaken four minutes into injury time and send Fiorentina through to another Europa Conference League final.
On Thursday, Olympiakos take a 4-2 lead over Aston Villa into the second leg of their semi-final on home soil.
MADRID: The Spanish Football Federation on Thursday accepted Atletico Madrid’s appeal against a partial stadium ban after racial abuse directed at Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams.
Atletico were initially ordered to partially close their stadium for two La Liga matches following monkey chants heard by Spain international Williams at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium last month.
The federation pointed to Atletico’s “active cooperation” in their decision to lift the stadium ban and a 20,000 euros ($21,350) fine.
Williams heard the abuse when he went to take a corner. He subsequently scored, pointing to his arm in reference to his skin colour, in his side’s 3-1 defeat on April 28.
“There weren’t many of them. There are stupid people everywhere... I hope this changes bit by bit” he said after the match.
Atletico identified the person responsible for the abuse from cameras in the stadium. He was handed over to the police when the game ended, and banned from the club.
The federation praised Atletico’s swift action in what they accepted was “an isolated incident”.
Spanish football has suffered a spate of racist incidents in recent years, many of which have been aimed at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.
The Brazil international earned global support after facing off with a fan who was abusing him last year at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium, which also faced subsequent partial closure.
CUBARSI EXTENDS BARCA DEAL: Spanish teenager Pau Cubarsi, who has been turning heads with his mature performances in central defence in his breakout season, has extended his contract with Barcelona until 2027, the La Liga side announced in a statement on Thursday.
“FC Barcelona and player Pau Cubarsi have reached an agreement to extend his contract, which will tie him to the club until 30 June 2027,” wrote Barca, adding that the new contract contains a release clause worth 500 million euros ($537 million).
The 17-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise since being thrown into action by coach Xavi Hernandez in January and, along with 16-yearold winger Lamine Yamal, is the new face of a rejuvenated Barca.
He has put in some outstanding performances, notably in the Champions League against Napoli and Paris Saint-germain, and has provided the stability that had been lacking in a shaky Catalan defence.