Spanish Footballer, Jenni Hermoso files a law suit following Luis Rubiales kiss at World Cup

Jenni Hermoso, a prominent Spanish football star, has filed a legal complaint against Luis Rubiales, the head of the football federation in Spain. This action comes in response to an unsolicited kiss by Rubiales following Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup. The national prosecutor’s office confirmed the complaint, potentially subjecting Rubiales to criminal charges. It adds to the ongoing investigation by Spain’s top sports court for “serious misconduct” and a probe by FIFA, the global governing body of football.

Controversial Kiss and Allegations During the trophy presentation following Spain’s 1-0 win over England in the Women’s World Cup final on August 20, Rubiales kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips. Hermoso has stated that she did not give her consent for this kiss, leading to outrage in Spain and internationally. Rubiales’ behavior also included inappropriate actions such as appearing to grab his crotch while standing near Spain’s Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter during the final match.

Potential Legal Consequences Last month, the prosecutor for Spain’s High Court suggested that Rubiales could face a sexual assault charge, which carries a prison sentence ranging from one to four years, if Hermoso decided to file a complaint. Given that the incident occurred abroad, in Sydney, the High Court has jurisdiction over the case. Hermoso expressed feeling “vulnerable and a victim of an aggression” due to the unsolicited kiss.

Rubiales’ Response Luis Rubiales, who has faced significant pressure to resign but has refused to do so, defended himself by characterizing the kiss as “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric, and consensual.” FIFA, in response to the ongoing investigation, has provisionally barred Rubiales from all football-related activities for an initial period of 90 days following his conduct during the World Cup final.

Federation’s Stance Pedro Rocha, the current president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), distanced the federation from Rubiales’ actions by writing a letter addressing the matter. However, neither Jenni Hermoso’s representatives nor Luis Rubiales provided immediate comments on the legal complaint.

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