Spain’s Jenni Hermoso is seen training with her Mexican club for the first time after filing a lawsuit against disgraced Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales over alleged sexual assault
- Jenni Hermoso pictured training with Liga MX Femenil club CF Pachuca
- Luis Rubiales was suspended by FIFA for his behavior but refused to resign
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Jenni Hermoso was pictured for the first time at training with Mexican club CF Pachuca after filing a lawsuit against Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales for kissing her without consent.
Hermoso has accused Rubiales of sexual assault over an unsolicited kiss after the Women’s World Cup final, and her club Pachuca has promised to help her find “normalcy.”
Pachuca plays Pumas in Round 10 of the Apertura tournament on Sunday. It is unknown whether Hermoso will appear for the team in the match, but the pictures showing her with the team were published on the club’s official Instagram account.
The 33-year-old Hermoso returned to her club after the World Cup triumph following the 1-0 final win against England.
Spain’s success was somewhat overshadowed by the Rubiales scandal. The controversial Spanish federation boss refused to resign despite being banned for 90 days following his behavior after the final.
Jenni Hermoso received a warm welcome from her teammates upon her first return
CF Pachuca posted the photos on the club’s official Instagram account when Hermoso returned
The club is committed to making her return after the unsolicited kiss as normal as possible
Spanish prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against Rubiales for sexual assault and coercion, and there is an ongoing investigation by Spain’s top sports court into “serious misconduct” as well as an investigation by FIFA, which has provisionally suspended him.
The former president could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty of sexual assault under a recently passed law.
In a statement last month, Hermoso said the incident left her feeling “vulnerable and the victim of aggression.” She described the kiss as an “impulsive act, sexist, out of place and without any consent from me.”
Rubiales has insisted the kiss was consensual, but Hermoso has denied this in statements from her and her players’ union.
Prosecutors have asked the National Court judge that Rubiales appear in court to give a preliminary statement.
A formal judicial inquiry will follow if the judge agrees to hear the case, and this would end with a recommendation to either dismiss the case or send it to trial
Prosecutors had given Hermoso, 33, 15 days to accuse Rubiales of sexually abusing her by kissing her on the lips without consent.
She did so on Wednesday, filing the complaint in person at the Spanish prosecutor’s office headquarters in Madrid. Without them, prosecutors would not have been able to prosecute Rubiales.
Luis Rubiales kissed the 33-year-old Hermoso at the medal ceremony after the final in Sydney
Spain coach Jorge Vilda was sacked on Tuesday but has since described his dismissal as “unfair”.
After nine rounds, Las Tuzas are in tenth place of the 18 teams in the first division
Rubiale’s mother was hospitalized after going on a three-day hunger strike to protest her son’s treatment.
Spanish media reported that Rubiales came personally to pick up his mother in the early hours of Thursday morning and they slipped away through a back exit.
Meanwhile, Spanish World Cup winner Jorge Vilda’s coach was fired on Tuesday after being caught up in the ongoing scandal following Rubiales’ presentation of their World Cup winners’ medals to the Spanish women’s team.
Vilda has since described his dismissal as “unfair” and said he would never applaud anything sexist or contrary to the fight for equality, although he was seen clapping suspended Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales after he claimed he was a victim a “political and media confrontation” has become lynching’.
After a long career in Europe with spells at Barcelona, PSG and Atlético Madrid, Hermoso moved to Pachuca last summer.
The striker was outstanding for Barcelona, scoring 18 goals in 20 games last season to help Pachuca reach the final, where they ultimately lost to Club America earlier this year.
Las Tuzas are currently in 10th place among 18 teams in the first division after nine rounds.
Hermoso celebrates Spain’s World Cup victory after narrowly beating England 1-0 in the final
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