Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso has accused Luis Rubiales, the embattled president of the Spanish football federation, of sexual assault stemming from an unsolicited kiss during Spain’s victory celebration last month, according to the country’s prosecutor’s office.
Hermoso, a forward on Spain’s national women’s soccer team, offered testimony Tuesday, , noting “the complaint will be processed ‘as soon as possible.”
Hermoso also said she and her family were 𒆙pressured by the federation to show her support𒆙 for Rubiales in the immediate aftermath of the scandal caused by the kiss that tarnished her team’s victory.
2023 Women’s World Cup. Fox Sports
The prosecutors’ office i🥀n Madrid said that, according to a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty.
The new law eliminated the dܫifference between “sexual harassment” and “sexual assault,” sanctioning🀅 any unconsented sexual act.
Rubiales, who has since been suspended by FIFA for 90 days in the wake of the ordeal, “could face criminal charges” with the complaint, according to Reuters.
The incident unfolded on Aug. 20, when Hermoso and her teammates were taking part in the gold medal ceremony in Sydney, Australia, as Spain celebrated its win over England in the Women’s World Cup final.
Rubiales planted a kiss on Hermoso’s lips, which he alleged was consensual.
Hermoso later denied the kiss was consensual.
Rubiales has refused to resign from his post amid the public outcry.
Last week, the Spanish government suffered a setback in its case against Rubiales after a court rejected the argument that the charges against were “very serious.”
— with AP
