Rubiales to face trial for unwanted World Cup kiss, judge confirms

MADRID: Disgraced former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chief Luis Rubiales (pic) will stand trial for his forcible kiss on the lips of Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, a Spanish high court judge decided.

“(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 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 (RM254,400) in compensation to the player.

Judge De Jorge asked Luis Rubiales to post bail of €65,000 (RM330,800) 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.