Madrid – In a significant development, former Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales is scheduled to appear before a High Court judge on Friday, facing allegations of sexual assault stemming from an incident where he allegedly kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent. This incident has ignited a nationwide conversation about sexism in Spanish sports and society.
The events that unfolded on August 20 overshadowed the national women’s team’s World Cup victory in Sydney and sparked protests reminiscent of the Me Too movement. In the wake of the incident, other women have come forward with reports of sexist treatment and assaults, sending shockwaves through Spain’s male-dominated football establishment.
Rubiales, aged 46, has maintained that the kiss was mutual and consensual. Despite resisting calls to step down as the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for weeks, he finally resigned on September 10. He remains unapologetic, asserting that the kiss was a spontaneous expression of celebration and joy, akin to winning a lottery or witnessing the end of a war, where permissions aren’t typically sought.
Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz has criticized Rubiales’s actions as “shameful” and highlighted the persistence of male chauvinism in Spanish society. On September 8, prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil filed a complaint with the High Court against Rubiales, following Hermoso’s account of the incident. Hermoso claimed that Rubiales kissed her without her consent and held her head with both hands during the medals ceremony. The prosecutor has also added a possible charge of coercion, as Hermoso alleged that she and her relatives were pressured by Rubiales and his associates to approve of the incident.
Judge Francisco de Jorge is leading the investigation, which must precede any formal charges under Spanish law. He will determine whether the case goes to trial, and if it does, Rubiales could face a prison sentence ranging from one to four years. De Jorge has ordered various media outlets, including state broadcaster TVE, to provide footage of the incident and subsequent videos, which may shed light on the context.
Friday’s hearing will be held behind closed doors, and this legal case will serve as a public test of the leftist coalition government’s “Solo si es si” (Only yes is yes) law, which places consent at the core of sexual relations. The campaign supporting Hermoso, marked by the hashtag #SeAcabó (It’s Over) on social media, reflects growing intolerance to abuse in the nation.
In a powerful show of solidarity, Spain’s top 87 female players, including the 23 world champions, have refused to represent the national team until changes are made in the RFEF management and its approach. The RFEF has subsequently removed women’s team coach Jorge Vilda, appointing Montse Tome as the first woman to lead the team.
Striker Olga Carmona indicated that the players are still evaluating whether these changes are sufficient to prompt their return to the team.
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