Forced kiss affair: two and a half years in prison required against Luis Rubiales, former boss of the Spanish Federation

La sanction est tombée pour l'ex-président de la Fédération espagnole. EFE – JUAN CARLOS HIDALGO

The prosecution on Wednesday requested two and a half years in prison against the former boss of Spanish football Luis Rubiales in the case of the forced kiss of the player Jenni Hermoso, according to his requisitions consulted by the AFP.

The former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is being prosecuted for "sexual assault" and offense of "coercion" after having surprisedly kissed the No.10 of the Spanish women's team on the lips on August 20 in Sydney, a few minutes after the coronation of the "Roja" in the World Cup, a gesture which provoked indignation in Spain and abroad.

In Spain, the public prosecutor's office makes its requests known in advance, before the trial. The date of the trial of Mr. Rubiales and his three co-defendants is not yet known.

Two years on probation and 50,000€ compensation to the player

According to its written requisitions, the prosecution requests one year in prison for the offense of sexual assault and one and a half years for the offense of coercion, Mr. Rubiales being accused of having exerted pressure, direct and indirect, on Jenni Hermoso so that the player affirmed that the kiss had been consensual.

The prosecution also requests that the former strongman of Spanish football be placed on probation for two years after serving his sentence and that he pay 50,000 euros in compensation. compensation to the player for the forced kiss.

As for the other three defendants, the sentence requested against them is one and a half years in prison for the offense of coercion. They are Jorge Vilda, coach of the women's national team at the time, Rubén Rivera, former marketing director of the RFEF, and Albert Luque, at the time sports director of the men's national team.

Mr. Rubiales is currently at the center of another legal case that last week led to searches of the Federation's headquarters and his home as part of a corruption investigation.

The Kiss of Shame

According to the Spanish press, the investigation concerns the enormous multi-year contract concluded by the RFEF to relocate the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. According to information from the same Spanish press, Mr. Rubiales has been in the Dominican Republic for several weeks.

Also read:Football: after the forced kiss in Spain, the judge asks that Luis Rubiales be tried

Since the reform of the Spanish Penal Code, a non-consensual kiss is considered in Spain as "sexual assault", a criminal category bringing together all types of sexual violence. The kiss on the mouth inflicted by Luis Rubiales on Jenni Hermoso in front of cameras around the world, a few minutes after the presentation of the trophy to the Spanish players in Sydney, caused a huge wave of indignation in Spain, forcing him to resign on September 10, after saying he was the victim of a "disproportionate campaign".

Also read: Football: "It was a reciprocal act, she came to me, very happy", defends Rubiales in the forced kiss affair

He always denied any "sexual connotation" to his gesture, ensuring that he acted under the influence of "emotion" and in "a moment of happiness". The International Football Federation (FIFA) announced on October 30 its suspension for three years from all football-related activities, after having initially suspended it provisionally for 90 days. This three-year suspension was confirmed in January by Fifa.