Spanish Football Ex-President Luis Rubiales Faces Trial Over Non-Consensual Kiss
The trial examines allegations of sexual assault and coercion stemming from a forced kiss on player Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women's World Cup celebration.
- Luis Rubiales, former president of the Spanish Football Federation, is on trial for sexual assault and coercion after forcibly kissing player Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women's World Cup victory ceremony.
- The prosecution is seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, including one year for sexual assault and one and a half years for coercion, alleging Rubiales pressured Hermoso to downplay the incident.
- Hermoso testified that the kiss was non-consensual and described it as an unacceptable abuse of power in any workplace or social context.
- The trial has reignited broader discussions in Spain about toxic masculinity and the minimization of certain forms of sexual violence.
- Key witnesses, including Spanish men's team coach Luis de la Fuente, have denied participating in efforts to manage or suppress the fallout from the incident.
Libération 