Luis Rubiales, who’s the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, will stand trial over sexual assault and coercion allegations. This is due to his actions following the kiss of Spain player, Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup final.
This act was seen during the presentation ceremony in which the Spain Women’s team won their first-ever World Cup. During the presentation, Rubiales held Hermoso and planted a kiss on her lips due to alleged excitement.
Rubiales act caused a lot of backlash as it was broadcast worldwide gaining a lot of views and opinions. Further raising national debates over sexism in Spain.
Rubiales Denies Wrongdoings
The High Court in Spain set a bail of €65,000 on Rubiales for his charge of sexual assault. This is in addition to another €65,000 joint bail between Rubiales, the former coach of the women’s team Jorge Vilda, the team’s current sporting director Albert Luque, and the Spanish football federation’s head of marketing Ruben Rivera for the coercion charge.
The offenses hold a prison term of one year and 18 months, respectively. The case will be heard at the High Court due to the alleged offenses taking place abroad.
However, Hermoso, who is now 34 years old, testified in court that the kiss was not consensual. Whereas, Rubiales has denied any wrongdoing and has argued that the kiss was consensual.
Also, the Spanish High Court will be trying the other three individuals mentioned in the case. All of them are accused of coercing Hermoso into saying that the kiss was consensual. Meanwhile, this has led to the court setting bail for all four individuals mentioned in the case.
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FIFA Bans Rubiales
Rubiales was banned by FIFA from all football-related activities for three years last October. This is after the world football governing body found he had breached Article 13 of its disciplinary code after kissing Hermoso.
Notwithstanding, the case has attracted considerable attention due to the high-profile nature of the individuals involved. However, the allegations have been taken seriously by the Spanish legal system, and the trial will be closely watched by many.
Importance of Consent and Accountability
This case seems to highlight the importance of consent in all situations, including those involving public figures. However, It is vital that individuals can freely and willingly give their consent, and that any allegations of non-consensual behavior are taken seriously. Furthermore, this case also highlights the importance of accountability for those in high positions of power.
The actions of Rubiales, who is a former president of the Spanish football federation, were subject to scrutiny and have therefore resulted in legal action being taken. It is very pertinent that individuals are held accountable for their actions, regardless of their position or status. This will help to ensure that justice is being served and that individuals are deterred from engaging in non-consensual or coercive behavior.
Conclusion
In all, the trial of Rubiales and other individuals mentioned in this case highlights the importance of consent and accountability. Therefore, the allegations against Rubiales are serious and should be taken seriously by all those involved in the case. The trial will be closely watched by many, and it is hoped that justice will be duly served.
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Edmund Jaja is a sports enthusiast, Content Writer, Editor, and Storyteller from Nigeria. He’s been a die-hard Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United fan since the Fergie era, with the zeal and passion to inspire through writing.
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