January 25, 2024, 12:22 GMT
Updated 47 minutes ago
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Luis Rubiales resigned as president of the Spanish Football Association following the incident
A Spanish judge has suggested that former football federation president Luis Rubiales should face trial over the kiss of captain Jenni Hermoso at the Women's World Cup.
Mr. Rubiales grabbed Ms. Hermoso's head and kissed her during the presentation after Spain's victory in Australia.
She said the kiss was “non-consensual,” a statement Mr. Rubiales denied.
A judge concluded there was enough evidence for the matter to be heard.
At a hearing in Madrid, the judge described the kiss as “non-consensual and … a one-sided and surprising initiative,” according to a statement from the court quoted by Portal news agency.
Prosecutors had 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 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 that the kiss was consensual.
The judge in Madrid said the trio would also have to stand trial.
Lawyers involved in the case now have ten days to submit a formal request to a court for a hearing.
According to Spanish media, she said the kiss was “unexpected and never consensual.”
Image source: Getty Images
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Jenni Hermoso said she “received threats” amid the controversy.
A statement attributed to Ms Hermoso made shortly after the finale had suggested that the kiss had been consensual. However, she later complained that she had been pressured by Spanish Football Federation officials to include her name in the statement.
The kiss took place during the medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20 last year after Spain's victory over England.
Mr Rubiales has always maintained the kiss was a “consensual kiss”, but after the incident he was forced to resign as president of the Spanish Football Federation.