MADRID – The former president of Spain’s football federation, Luis Rubiales, went on trial Monday, facing charges of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent during the 2023 Women’s World Cup victory ceremony.
The case has sparked nationwide debate on sexism and consent in sports, underscoring the broader fight for gender equality.
Hermoso, who traveled from Mexico where she currently plays club football, is set to testify as a key witness on the opening day. The trial, which runs until February 19, has drawn significant public and political attention.
The controversial kiss occurred on August 20, 2023, after Spain’s historic 1-0 win against England in the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney.
As players received their medals, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips. Hermoso later stated that the kiss was not consensual, directly contradicting Rubiales’s claims that it was a mutual act.
The incident ignited widespread protests and calls for Rubiales’s resignation, extending beyond the sports world into Spain’s political sphere.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned Rubiales’s actions, stating that the case highlighted the ongoing struggle for gender equality and respect for women in the country.
Initially, Rubiales remained defiant, denouncing the backlash as a “witch-hunt” fueled by what he termed “fake feminism.” However, mounting pressure ultimately led to his resignation before legal proceedings were launched against him.
Prosecutors are seeking a one-year prison sentence for sexual assault and an additional one-and-a-half years for coercion, alleging that Rubiales attempted to pressure Hermoso into publicly declaring the kiss consensual. He denies all charges.
Three former federation officials are also standing trial for their alleged involvement in the coercion attempt: Jorge Vilda, the former head coach of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad, Rubén Rivera, the former marketing director, and Albert Luque, the former sporting director. All three have denied any wrongdoing.
The scandal has tarnished the image of Spanish football internationally, with many lamenting how it overshadowed the nation’s first-ever Women’s World Cup triumph.
Isabel Fuentes, a former player who represented Spain in the 1970s, expressed sadness over the controversy, noting that it had taken attention away from a historic achievement.
“It was something we would have liked to experience, but we weren’t allowed to,” Fuentes said, referring to the limited opportunities for women’s football during Spain’s Franco-era dictatorship. “These players won it for us. They have lived out our dreams.”
While many, like Fuentes, are concerned about the scandal’s impact, younger generations of players are focusing on the positive progress women’s football has made. Belén Peralta, a third-division player for Olimpia Las Rozas, noted that the perception of female footballers has improved significantly in recent years.
“When I was younger, girls playing football was seen as strange. Now, you tell people you’re a footballer, and they think it’s cool,” Peralta said.
Her teammate, Andrea Rodríguez, echoed the sentiment, stating that while occasional sexist remarks still exist, social attitudes towards women’s football have become increasingly accepting.
As Rubiales’s trial unfolds, the case is expected to shape future discussions on gender dynamics in sports and beyond, reinforcing Spain’s ongoing push for equality and accountability.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members