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Tag: Rubiales

  • Judge proposes Rubiales trial for World Cup kiss

    Judge proposes Rubiales trial for World Cup kiss

    A Spanish judge has proposed that former football federation president Luis Rubiales should stand trial over the women’s World Cup kiss involving captain Jenni Hermoso.

    Mr Rubiales grabbed Ms Hermoso’s head and kissed her during the presentation after Spain’s victory in Australia.

    She said the kiss was “not consensual”, a statement denied by Mr Rubiales.

    A judge has found there is enough evidence for the matter to proceed to trial.

    During a hearing at the Audencia Nacional, or High Court, in Madrid, the judge described the kiss as “not consensual and… a unilateral and surprising initiative”.

    Prosecutors previously charged Mr Rubiales with sexual assault and coercion.

    Penalties for such a kiss range from a fine to four years in prison.

    The incident has involved several Spanish football executives including Ms Hermoso’s former coach, a former marketing manager and the sports director of the men’s team.

    Jorge Vilda, Rubén Rivera and Albert Luque are accused of pressuring Ms Hermoso to say publicly the kiss had been consensual.

    The judge in Madrid said the trio should also stand trial.

    Lawyers involved in the proceedings now have 10 days to make a formal trial request before a court.

    Ms Hermoso, Spain’s top scorer, testified before the court investigating her allegation for more than two-and-a-half hours earlier in January.

    Read Also: Rubiales banned for three years over World Cup kiss

    According to Spanish media, she said the kiss was “unexpected and at no time consensual”.

    A statement issued shortly after the final that was attributed to Ms Hermoso had indicated the kiss had been consensual. But she later complained of being pressured by officials of the Spanish football federation to put her name to the statement.

    The kiss took place during the medal ceremony in Sydney on 20 August last year, following Spain’s win over England.

    Mr Rubiales has always maintained the kiss was a “consensual peck”, but in the wake of the incident, he was forced to resign as president of the Spanish football federation.

    It set off a wave of global anger at sexism at the highest levels of women’s sport.

  • Rubiales banned for three years over World Cup kiss

    Rubiales banned for three years over World Cup kiss

    Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activities for three years by Fifa.

    Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win over England.

    The kiss, which forward Hermoso says was not consensual, sparked outcry, with Rubiales eventually stepping down from his role in September.

    Hermoso later filed a legal complaint against Rubiales.

    On Monday, world governing body Fifa announced the three-year ban for breaching article 13 of its disciplinary code.

    Rubiales says he intends to appeal against the ban.

    “I will go to the last resort to see that justice is done and that the truth shines through,” he said on social media.

    Fifa confirmed the case against him concerned the “events that occurred during the final of the Fifa Women’s World Cup on 20 August 2023, for which Mr Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for an initial period of 90 days”.

    “Fifa reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld,” a statement read.

    It added that the decision was “subject to a possible appeal”, which Rubiales has now confirmed he intends to pursue.

    Article 13 of the Fifa disciplinary code relates to offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play.

    Rubiales, 46, claimed the kiss at the post-match presentation ceremony was “mutual” but Hermoso has consistently said it was not.

    The incident overshadowed Spain’s historic victory in Sydney, Australia.

    Read Also: Cameroonians want Rubiales treatment for Samuel Eto’o

    Last month, a hearing at the national court in Madrid considered a criminal complaint of sexual assault and coercion against Rubiales, who was subsequently banned from going within 200m of Hermoso. He has denied the allegations.

    Rubiales’ actions drew widespread criticism, with a majority of the World Cup-winning squad boycotting the national team until changes were made within the football federation.

    World Cup-winning manager Jorge Vilda was sacked in September and is being investigated as part of the criminal case against Rubiales.

    Hermoso, who said her image had been tarnished by the kiss, returned to the national side in October and scored an 89th-minute winner against Italy.

  • Cameroonians want Rubiales treatment for Samuel Eto’o

    Cameroonians want Rubiales treatment for Samuel Eto’o

    President of the Cameroon Football Association (Fecafoot) Samuel Eto’o has been compared to disgraced Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales, as a number of prominent figures in Cameroonian football request a FIFA suspension for the former Barcelona forward.

    Eto’o has come under pressure in recent months, with one of his Vice-Presidents recently declaring that Eto’o tried to ruin the career of Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana while on Cameroon duty.

    The ex-Inter striker has also been seen violently assaulting a YouTuber in Qatar last year, and in the open letter to FIFA, audio recordings were published of Eto’o allegedly agreeing to fix matches in the second division in Cameroon.

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    In the open letter addressed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, titled ‘Ethic for Europe, Ethics for Africa?’, they praise the action taken against Rubiales following public pressure, and request similar for Eto’o.

    The letter goes on to say that it is unthinkable that similar would have happened in Europe, citing the above misdemeanours and the fact that neither CAF nor FIFA have advanced an open investigation into Eto’o’s conduct, despite complaints and reminders from others within Fecafoot.

  • Rubiales denies wrong doing before judge

    Rubiales denies wrong doing before judge

    Former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales denied any wrongdoing when questioned by the judge investigating the kiss on Jenni Hermoso at last month’s Women’s World Cup.

    The incident took place on the winners’ podium of Spain’s World Cup final victory over England last month in Sydney.

    Rubiales, 46, has maintained that the kiss was mutual and consensual. After weeks of resisting calls for him to step down as president of the Spanish FA, Rubiales, already suspended by FIFA, finally quit on September 10.

    But last week, prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil filed a complaint with the High Court against Rubiales after Hermoso told prosecutors that Rubiales kissed her on the mouth without her consent while holding her head with both hands.

    Read Also: Pochettino made wrong signing in Caicedo, says Begovic

    The prosecutor added a possible crime of coercion after Hermoso said she and her relatives were put under pressure by Rubiales and his entourage to say that she “justified and approved what happened”.

    On Friday, the state prosecutors’ office said Rubiales denied both accusations when answering questions by the judge in an hour-long hearing that was closed to the public.

    State prosecutors asked the judge to consider issuing a restraining order to prohibit Rubiales from coming within 500 meters (yards) of Hermoso or trying to communicate with her, as well as a requirement for him to check in with a court every 15 days to ensure he does not flee the country. The judge will have to decide whether to apply those measures.

    Neither Rubiales nor his defence lawyer, Olga Tubau, spoke to the media outside the National Court.

    Judge Francisco de Jorge is in charge of the investigation and will decide whether the case goes to trial. If it does, Rubiales could face between one and four years imprisonment if found guilty.

  • KISS-GATE: Prosecutors accuse Rubiales of sexual assault

    KISS-GATE: Prosecutors accuse Rubiales of sexual assault

    State prosecutors in Spain have filed a lawsuit against Luis Rubiales for sexual assault and coercion for kissing a player on the lips without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final, the country’s prosecutors’ office said Friday.

    Rubiales, the now-suspended president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the awards ceremony after Spain beat England to win the title on Aug. 20 in Sydney.

    Prosecutors presented the suit to Spain’s National Court in Madrid two days after Hermoso formally accused Rubiales of sexual assault.

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    According to a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty of sexual assault.

    Prosecutors added Friday that Rubiales could have committed an act of coercion when, according to Hermoso, he pressured her to speak out in his defense immediately after people criticized his behavior.

    Rubiales has insisted the kiss was consensual. Hermoso has denied that in statements issued by her and her players’ union.

    Prosecutors have asked the judge that Rubiales appear before a court to give preliminary testimony.

    If the National Court judge agrees the hear the case, it would lead to a formal court investigation that will end with a recommendation for the case to either be dismissed or go to trial.

  • Hermoso files legal complaint over Rubiales kiss

    Hermoso files legal complaint over Rubiales kiss

    Jenni Hermoso has filed a legal complaint over the kiss by Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales.

    Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s World Cup final win, which she says was not consensual.

    Rubiales claims the kiss was “mutual and “consensual”, but has been provisionally suspended by football’s world governing body Fifa.

    The complaint means the 46-year-old could face criminal charges.

    On 29 August, Spanish prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into whether the incident amounts to a crime of sexual assault.

    At the time, Spain’s top criminal court said it was opening its investigation in light of the “unequivocal nature” of 33-year-old Hermoso’s statements, saying it was necessary “to determine their legal significance”.

    “Given the public statements made by Jennifer Hermoso, the sexual act she was subjected to by Luis Rubiales was not consensual,” a statement said.

    It added that legal experts would also contact her “to offer her the option of legal action, giving her the chance to contact National Court prosecutors within 15 days for information about her rights as a victim of an alleged sexual assault should she wish to file a complaint”.

    The statement added: “In order to proceed with a case for sexual assault, harassment or sexual abuse, it will be necessary for the injured party or their legal representative to file suit, or the public prosecutors’ office.”

    It is reported Hermoso filed her complaint on Tuesday.

    Read Also: JUST IN: FIFA suspends Spanish FA boss over Jenni Hermoso kiss

    Rubiales, who prior to the kiss had been seen grabbing his crotch while celebrating Spain’s 1-0 win over England, has repeatedly refused to resign from his position.

    On Friday, Spain’s national sports tribunal (TAD) opened a misconduct case against him, ruling he had committed a “serious offence” by kissing Hermoso.

    However, the TAD stopped short of the “very serious offence” the government had requested which would have led to his suspension.

    Some 81 Spain players, including all 23 World Cup winners, have said they will not play for the team again while Rubiales is in charge.

    They are due to play in Uefa Nations League qualifying later this month, with fixtures against Sweden and Switzerland on 22 and 26 September.

    On Tuesday, Spain’s World Cup-winning head coach Jorge Vilda – considered a close ally of Rubiales – was sacked, with Montse Tome named as his successor.

  • KISSGATE: Rubiales’ mum on hunger strike over son’s ‘harassment’

    KISSGATE: Rubiales’ mum on hunger strike over son’s ‘harassment’

    The mother of Spain’s suspended football chief Luis Rubiales, who is under fire for planting an unsolicited kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso, went on hunger strike Monday in support of her son.

    Angeles Bejar began her protest inside the Divina Pastora church in the southern seaside town of Motril, saying she would continue until Hermoso “tells the truth” about what happened, a family member told reporters outside of the church.

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     “There is a harassment that is not fair. His mother who has a deep faith, has found refuge in God, she has gone on hunger strike, she does not want to leave the church,” said Vanessa Ruiz Bejar, who is Rubiales’ cousin.

     “What is happening does not seem fair, he has been condemned already. It does not seem normal… We want Jenni to tell the truth because she has changed her statement three times. His family is suffering greatly.”

    Rubiales, 46, grew up in Motril and his father was the resort town’s former mayor.

    FIFA suspended Rubiales on Saturday after he forcefully kissed Hermoso on the mouth after Spain won the Women’s World Cup in Australia on August 20, sparking an outcry.

    Hermoso posted a video on Instagram showing the celebrations in the changing room in which she responded to teasing from team-mates about the kiss by saying: “I didn’t like it, eh!” while laughing.

    A statement released by the federation later quoted her as saying that the kiss was “a natural gesture of affection and gratitude”.

    But on Friday, Hermoso said “at no time” did she consent to the kiss following the 1-0 win in the final against England in Sydney, which Rubiales described as “mutual, euphoric and consensual”.

     “I felt vulnerable and a victim of an assault, an impulsive macho act, out of place and with no type of consent on my part. Simply, I was not respected,” she added in a statement on social media.

  • Spanish prosecutors open investigation into Rubiales kiss

    Spanish prosecutors open investigation into Rubiales kiss

    Spain’s top criminal court has opened a preliminary investigation into the country’s football federation president Luis Rubiales after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips.

    The prosecutors are looking into whether the incident amounts to a crime of sexual assault.

    Rubiales, 46, has been widely criticised after the incident following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win.

    Hermoso, 33, said the kiss was not consensual.

    Rubiales was suspended on Saturday by world football’s governing body Fifa.

    The previous day, Rubiales had insisted he would not resign.

    The court said it was opening the investigation in light of the “unequivocal nature” of Hermoso’s statements, saying it was necessary “to determine their legal significance”.

    “Given the public statements made by Jennifer Hermoso, the sexual act she was subjected to by Luis Rubiales was not consensual,” a statement said.

    Read Also: Spain coaching staff resigns over Rubiales kiss row

    Legal experts will also contact the player “to offer her the option of legal action, giving her the chance to contact National Court prosecutors within 15 days for information about her rights as a victim of an alleged sexual assault should she wish to file a complaint”.

    It added: “In order to proceed with a case for sexual assault, harassment or sexual abuse, it will be necessary for the injured party or their legal representative to file suit, or the public prosecutors’ office.”

    The Spanish government has asked for Spain’s Sports Tribunal (TAD) to suspend him – a request which will be discussed at a TAD meeting on Monday.

    The Spanish football federation (RFEF) has also called regional federations to an “extraordinary and urgent” meeting on Monday “to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself”.

    When Fifa announced Rubiales had been suspended on Saturday, it ordered him, the RFEF and its officials and employees not to attempt to contact Hermoso, who the RFEF had threatened with legal action earlier that day.