Former Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales is set to appear before a High Court judge on Friday regarding a complaint of sexual assault stemming from his alleged unsolicited kiss on player Jenni Hermoso’s lips. This incident has sparked significant controversy surrounding sexism in Spanish sport and society.
The incident occurred on August 20 and overshadowed the national women’s team’s World Cup victory in Sydney. It led to protests reminiscent of the Me Too movement, with other women coming forward to report instances of sexist treatment and assault. It sent shockwaves through the predominantly male-dominated ranks of Spain’s football establishment.
Rubiales, 46, has consistently maintained that the kiss was mutual and consensual. Despite weeks of resisting calls to step down as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rubiales, who was already suspended by FIFA, resigned on September 10. However, he remains unapologetic about his actions.
“I am a good person, that in a moment of maximum happiness, with consent, asking beforehand…In truth, there can be no other intention than the celebration and the joy itself,” he explained in an interview with British television interviewer Piers Morgan on Sunday. He compared the celebratory atmosphere in Sydney to winning a lottery or witnessing the end of a war, situations where he believes “people don’t ask permissions.”
Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz has criticized his actions as “shameful” and argued that they highlight the systemic presence of male chauvinism in Spanish society.
On September 8, prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil filed a complaint with the High Court against Rubiales after Hermoso revealed that Rubiales had kissed her on the mouth without her consent while holding her head with both hands at the medals ceremony. The prosecutor also included a possible crime of coercion after Hermoso stated that she and her relatives were pressured by Rubiales and his entourage to claim that she “justified and approved what happened.”
Judge Francisco de Jorge is overseeing the investigation that must precede any formal charges under Spanish law, and he will determine whether the case goes to trial. If it proceeds, Rubiales could face between one and four years of imprisonment. De Jorge has requested footage of the incident from various media outlets, including state broadcaster TVE, as well as subsequent videos, including one of players celebrating on a bus with Rubiales, making light-hearted references to the kiss. The investigation is expected to take several months.
The hearing scheduled for Friday will be held behind closed doors.
This legal case will also 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.
Numerous players, sports organizations, and politicians have expressed support for Hermoso through the #SeAcabó (It’s Over) hashtag on social media, reflecting the nation’s growing intolerance toward abuse.
Spain’s top 87 female players, including the 23 world champions, have refused to play for the national team until there are changes in the RFEF’s management lineup and style. As a result, the RFEF has dismissed women’s team coach Jorge Vilda and appointed Montse Tome as the first woman to lead the team.
Striker Olga Carmona stated this week that the players have not yet determined whether the changes are sufficient for them to return to the team.
