Luis Rubiales Faces Trial for Sexual Assault and Coercion Against National Soccer Player Jenni Hermoso

Former Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales will face trial on charges of sexual assault and coercion for forcibly kissing national soccer player Jenni Hermoso without her consent after the 2019 Women’s World Cup final. Judge Francisco de Jorge confirmed the charges in May 2024, ruling that Rubiales’ kiss was “unconsented and carried out unilaterally and in a surprising manner”. Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales for both the sexual assault and the alleged attempt to coerce Hermoso into supporting him during the subsequent public outcry. Additionally, former Spain coach Jorge Vilda, the men’s team’s current sporting director, Albert Luque, and the federation’s former head of marketing, Rubén Rivera, are also facing trial for attempting to put pressure on Hermoso. In January 2024, the judge found sufficient evidence to suggest that Rubiales had also attempted, unsuccessfully, to force Hermoso to feature in a video he produced and distributed while the controversy escalated. A trial date has yet to be arranged. FIFA imposed a three-year ban on Rubiales, which will expire prior to the next women’s tournament in 2027. Spain’s sports regulator similarly deemed Rubiales unsuitable to serve in a sporting capacity for a period of three years.