Former Spanish soccer president Luis Rubiales will go on trial for allegedly kissing a female soccer player after they won the Women's World Cup, but prosecutors claim it was sexual assault.
Rubiales appeared to kiss star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips, sparking the ire of his teammates. Mr. Hermoso later filed criminal charges.
State prosecutors are reportedly seeking fines or up to a year in prison. Yahoo It was reported that this will come under the jurisdiction of a new law that reportedly eliminates the contradiction between sexual harassment and sexual assault. Therefore, the charges against Mr. Rubiales are sexual assault, and he is also suspected of attempting to coerce the victim into providing public assistance.
The judge reportedly described evidence that Mr. Rubiales then pressured Mr. Hermoso to appear on the video, but that Mr. Hermoso refused. Other Spanish soccer officials are also said to have put further pressure on the player.
Rubiales denies any criminal wrongdoing, but Sun has previously claimed that she was the victim of a campaign led by “fake feminists”.
However, the day after the Women's World Cup, Hermoso downplayed the incident, calling the kiss “mutual” and stating that she and Rubiales maintain a great relationship.
“It was a mutual and completely spontaneous gesture out of great joy at winning the World Cup,” she said. fox news. “'Prezi' and I have a great relationship. His actions towards us were a '10'.” It was a natural gesture of love and appreciation…We won the World Cup and… I'm not going to run away from what's important.”
“There are idiots everywhere,” Rubiales was quoted as saying. “When two people express affection, it's not important and you can't pay attention to stupid things. [world] He's the champion and I'll focus on that. ”
Further complaints poured in as the soccer president was criticized retrospectively. grab crotch He spoke on camera at the beginning of the Women's World Cup.According to reports, there were also protests. daily mail on top of executives carry One of the female players at the victory celebration.
Just a few days after the celebration, the entire women's team refuse to play Again until the president resigns.
“Women should not feel the need to respond to the powerful images the whole world has seen, and certainly should not engage in non-consensual behavior,” the research team said in a statement.
Although he initially refused to resign, Rubiales decided to do so less than three weeks later. get off He was suspended for 90 days by FIFA, soccer's international governing body.
“Having been suspended by FIFA and all the other proceedings that have been initiated against me, it is clear that I cannot return to my former position,” Rubiales said in the letter. .
Rubiales has since requested a new three-year suspension from FIFA. was deniedthe appeals committee said it was “comfortably satisfied that Mr. Rubiales acted contrary to the principles of the organization.”
Spain's High Court found that the kiss was “non-consensual, unilateral and carried out in a surprising manner”.
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