Prosecutors Demand 2.5-year Jail Sentence for Luis Rubiales for Unwanted World Cup Kiss

Spanish prosecutors are advocating a 2.5-year prison term for Luis Rubiales, former head of Spain’s football federation. Rubiales is facing allegations of sexual assault and coercion following an incident in which he kissed female footballer Jenni Hermoso without her consent during Spain's World Cup triumph last August.

Hermoso and her teammates deemed the kiss as unwanted and demeaning, leading to an outcry and global anger at sexism at the highest levels of women's sport. Rubiales was forced to step down from his role but has continually denied any wrongdoing.

The indictment led to further complications. The prosecutor, Marta Durantez, accused Jorge Vilda, the former women’s national team's coach, Albert Luque, the current sporting director, and Rubén Rivera, the federation's head of marketing, of forcing Hermoso to claim the kiss was consensual through relentless pressure. All three have pleaded not guilty and might face up to 18 months in jail if proven guilty.

Durantez is also seeking damages totaling €100,000 from the four men, insisting Rubiales be held accountable for at least half of this amount. Furthermore, she has demanded a restraining order against Rubiales, preventing him from nearing Hermoso or communicating with her for the coming seven-and-a-half years.

FIFA initially suspended Rubiales and later confirmed a three-year ban from football-related activities. Amid the scandal fallout, Vilda was sacked but later took over as head coach for Morocco's women's team. Ultimately, this scandal cast a shadow over Spain's first-ever Women’s World Cup win, igniting calls for changes to women’s football in Spain.