Controversy Surrounding Spanish Football Federation President's Alleged Sexual Assault

2023-08-28 13:39:00

Spanish prosecutor accuses Rubiales of “sexual assault”

Rubiales is in the face of a storm because of his kiss with Jenny Hermoso

Posted on: August 28, 2023: 05:39 PM GST Last updated: August 28, 2023: 06:08 PM GST

The Spanish Public Prosecutor announced Monday that he will open a preliminary investigation into allegations of “sexual assault” in the case of the kiss of the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, who was temporarily suspended by FIFA, to the player, Jenny Hermoso, during Spain’s coronation in the Women’s World Cup.

The Public Prosecution Office will open an investigation into “facts that may constitute a crime of sexual assault,” according to what the Public Prosecutor’s Office explained in a press release sent to Agence France-Presse, calling on Jennifer Hermoso, whom Rubiales kissed, to contact the Public Prosecution Office “within 15 days” in order to “be informed.” rights as a victim” and “to file a complaint” if necessary.

FIFA suspended Rubiales, who refused to resign from his post, on Saturday, after he forcibly kissed Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women’s World Cup in Australia on August 20, which sparked intense criticism.

Rejecting the abuse inflicted on her son, Rubiales’ mother began a hunger strike on Monday in support of him. Angelis Bejar, who decided to protest inside the Divina Pastora church in the southern coastal town of Motril, said she would continue her hunger strike until Hermoso “tells the truth” about what happened, a family member told reporters.

Hermoso posted a video to Instagram showing the celebrations in the changing room, in which she responded to her teammates’ teasing about the kiss by saying, “I didn’t like it!” She laughs.

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

But Hermoso went back on Friday, stressing that she had “at no time” agreed to the kiss after the 1-0 victory over England in Sydney, which Rubiales described as “mutual, exhilarating and consensual”.

“I felt vulnerable and the victim of an assault, an act of reckless masculinity, out of place and without any kind of consent on my part. Simply put, I was not respected,” she added in a statement on social media.