Spain's Prosecutor Demands 2.5 Years in Prison for Unwanted Kiss to Former Football Federation Head Luis Rubiales
A prosecutor at Spain's High Court of Justice has asked that former football federation head Luis Rubiales be sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for his unsolicited kiss of women's national team player Jenny Hermoso, El Pais reports.
Prosecutor Marta Durantez charged Rubiales with sexual assault and coercion for his alleged actions after the kiss, offences that carry a one-year and 18-month prison sentence, respectively.
In his indictment, the prosecutor requests a year in prison for Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, for the crime of sexual assault following the Granada leader's forced kiss with player Jennifer Hermoso during the last FIFA Women's World Cup celebration. In addition, the prosecutor's office is also asking for another year and a half in prison for the crime of coercion.
For this latter crime, the same sentence is also requested for Albert Luque, the federation's sporting director, for former women's coach Jorge Wilda and marketing director Ruben Rivera.
The prosecutor's office is also requesting that all four defendants be banned from communicating with Jennifer Hermoso, and prohibited from approaching her or being within 200 metres of her for seven years and six months in the case of Rubiales and four years in the cases of Luque, Wilda and Rivera.
In addition, the prosecutor requests that the four be separately banned from working in the sports sector while serving their sentences.
Rubiales and Wilda are now out of the federation. Luque and Rivera, who remained in their positions, were suspended from them until the court's decision.
The federation released a statement this Wednesday guaranteeing that it will order a forensic audit that will address all liabilities that may arise from improper behaviour and decisions.
As a reminder, after Spain's 1-0 victory over England at the FIFA Women's World Cup, the federation's president, Luis Rubiales, grabbed the team's forward Jenny Hermoso by the head and pulled her towards him to kiss her on the lips. Later, Hermoso said she was uncomfortable with the gesture, which quickly sparked public outrage.
Acting Minister for Equality Irene Montero called it "a form of sexual violence" and the Dutch players' union Fifpro called it "inappropriate or unacceptable in any context".
After that, Miguel Galán, the national coach of the Spanish Football Federation, filed an official complaint against him with the National Sports Council, and FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings and launched an investigation.