The Prosecutor’s Office formally accused Luis Rubiales, suspended president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), who he asks to investigate for the crimes of sexual assault and coercion in relation to the kiss he gave to the player Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup final. in Sydney.
Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the medal ceremony after Spain defeated England in the World Cup final on August 20.
The Public Ministry considers that this action by Rubiales was not consented to and therefore may constitute a crime of sexual assault and another of coercion due to the pressure suffered by Jenni Hermoso and her entourage after the episode, so it requests the Court to open a case against the manager.
Now the court in which the complaint falls must decide whether or not to open criminal proceedings against him. If found guilty, he is exposed to a fine or up to a 4-year prison sentence.
The Prosecutor’s Office has taken legal action against Rubiales after the soccer player formalized her complaint last Tuesday.
Hermoso recounted the constant and repeated pressure that both she and her closest circle suffered from Rubiales and her professional environment to publicly approve the kiss that her superior gave her, while he held her head with both hands, during the ceremony. delivery of trophies of the World Cup, on August 20.
The deputy prosecutor of the National Court, Marta Durántez, recounts in her complaint that Hermoso suffered “a situation of harassment, against the development of her life in peace, tranquility and freely”, which could constitute a crime of coercion by Rubiales .
Among the proceedings that he proposes to carry out is the statement of Luis Rubiales as being investigated for the aforementioned crimes and that of Jenni Hermoso, as a victim.
Firm and resounding condemnation of behaviors that violate the dignity of women.
It also requests that the Australian authorities be consulted if the actions of the suspended executive constitute a crime in the country, a requirement provided for in the Organic Law of the Judiciary (LOPJ) for the Spanish jurisdiction to investigate the crimes that have allegedly been committed in the abroad if its alleged authors are Spanish.
The Prosecutor’s Office mentions in its complaint the Istanbul Convention to combat violence against women, through which Spain assumed the commitment to “protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence”, and that it will apply “to all forms of violence against women”.
After this step by the Prosecutor’s Office, the court of the National Court to which the complaint falls must decide whether or not to open criminal proceedings against Rubiales.
All this in criminal proceedings, because in the administrative Rubiales a file is open in the Administrative Court of Sports (TAD) after a complaint filed by the Higher Sports Council (CSD).
Rubiales is temporarily suspended from his duties as president by FIFA, while he investigates his behavior during the World Cup final, in which he also grabbed his genitals in the box while celebrating the victory of the Spanish team.
