The head of Spanish football, Luis Rubiales, whose forced kiss on world champion Jenni Hermoso sparked a wave of outrage, is in the sights of the Spanish justice system, which announced on Monday the opening of an investigation into “sexual assault”.
• Also read: Forced kiss: Luis Rubiales suspended by FIFA, Spanish team let down
• Also read: Forced kiss scandal: “I felt vulnerable and the victim of an attack”
This investigation involves “facts that could constitute the criminal offense of sexual assault,” says a press release from the Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office, which calls on the player to contact them “within 15 days” to “discuss her rights to be informed as a victim”. and “to file a complaint” if she so wishes.
According to the prosecutor’s office, a complaint from Jenni Hermoso is crucial to the opening of a possible case against the president of the RFEF, a spokesman told AFP.
Other complaints have been filed against Mr. Rubiales, but none have come from the player.
The Administrative Court of Sport (TAD), called by the Spanish government, met on Monday to decide on the left-wing executive’s complaint against Luis Rubiales.
If the TAD opens proceedings, the Superior Sports Council (CSD), a government body whose president is due to speak at 6:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. GMT), can suspend the leader while the case is assessed on the merits.
46-year-old Luis Rubiales was suspended by FIFA on Saturday for 90 days “from all activities related to football at national and international level”.
The affair, which has already been dubbed the “#MeToo of Spanish football” and which overshadowed La Roja feminina’s World Cup title, sparked a wave of outrage in Spain but also abroad.
Several men’s and women’s soccer teams in the country displayed banners or T-shirts that read #SeAcabo (Let’s Break Up) to call for an end to impunity for sexist acts and sexual violence – a slogan that went viral on social networks.
The beliefs extended beyond the world of soccer, with Spanish basketball legend Pau Gasol, and beyond sports, with Israeli-American actress Natalie Portman.
hunger strike
In a country that is considered very progressive when it comes to women’s rights, the government of socialist Pedro Sanchez is taking particularly violent action against Luis Rubiales.
“Faced with a non-consensual kiss,” which according to Spain’s penal code can constitute sexual assault, “the government has a duty to act,” Equality Minister Irene Montero said Monday. “It is very important that Rubiales does not remain in office,” she added.
The number three in the government, Yolanda Diaz, announced the filing of another complaint to the CSD to demand that the association respect the law on gender parity in its governing bodies, which is a “key against structural machismo”.
Minutes after La Roja’s World Cup final victory over England on August 20, Rubiales threw Spanish football into chaos by kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the medal ceremony in Sydney.
His refusal to resign on Friday despite intense pressure, against all expectations, was shocking, as was his violent speech against supposed “false feminism.” The former defense attorney insists that kiss was “consensual.”
A version that was categorically denied by the world champion, saying she felt “vulnerable and the victim of an attack (…) without my consent”.
Vanessa Ruiz Bejar, a cousin of the President of the Federation, told the press that she denounced the “harassment” of which Luis Rubiales was the victim and his mother went on hunger strike in a church in Motril (South).
Negative pressure
In the middle of the bidding process to host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Morocco, the RFEF called an extraordinary meeting of the presidents of the regional associations on Monday afternoon.
The body is under pressure as La Roja’s 23 players refuse to play under the current management and six members of the women’s team management resigned on Saturday.
Several voices also called on Friday for the resignation of the leaders of the federation, who had welcomed Luis Rubiales’ speech on Friday.
“Anyone who applauds an alleged sexual assault (…) should not be able to remain in their position,” said Yolanda Diaz.