Kiss scandal
Judge forbids Rubiale’s contact with Hermoso
Luis Rubiales on the way to court. photo
© Manu Fernandez/AP/dpa
Luis Rubiales must appear before the State Court in Madrid. A Spanish world champion reported him because of the kissing scandal.
The resigned president of the Spanish Football Federation RFEF, Luis Rubiales, according to media reports, has denied the allegations made against him in the kissing scandal.
The judge at the State Court nevertheless ordered that the 46-year-old was only allowed to approach the player Jennifer Hermoso within a maximum of 200 meters and not to make any contact with her, as the court announced.
The public prosecutor’s office had demanded 500 meters and an obligation for Rubiales to report to the court every two weeks. According to the court, the judge rejected this as well as Hermoso’s lawyer’s request to seize Rubiales’ assets as a precautionary measure.
De Jorge is conducting an investigation against Rubiales on suspicion of sexual aggression and coercion because he kissed world champion Hermoso on the mouth without asking at the award ceremony in Sydney in August. In the trial, the judge must decide whether Rubiales should be put in the dock because of the kiss.
Rubiales refused to resign for a long time
Rubiales maintains that Hermoso agreed to the kiss at the awards ceremony on August 20 in Sydney. However, the 33-year-old explained that she felt “as a victim of an impulsive, sexist and inappropriate act that I did not consent to.” Hermoso filed a complaint, thereby enabling the public prosecutor’s office to file a criminal complaint with the State Court.
Although the world association FIFA suspended him for 90 days shortly after the scandal and also initiated disciplinary proceedings against him, Rubiales refused to resign for a long time. It was only at the beginning of the week that he drew the conclusions and gave up both his position as RFEF President and his vice-presidency in the European Football Union UEFA.