Rubiales stands trial for kiss that exposed machismo in Spanish soccer

By Charlie Devereux and Emma Pinedo

MADRID (Reuters) - Former Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales goes on trial from Monday at Madrid's High Court for his kiss on the lips of World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso that was watched by millions and triggered a backlash against machismo in the sport.

Rubiales, 47, is accused of sexual assault and of then attempting to coerce Hermoso, 34, into declaring that the kiss had been consensual. He denies those charges.

The furore overshadowed the women's triumph at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and also galvanized a "Me Too" movement in Spanish football where female players were fighting against sexism and inequalities with male peers.

Alongside Rubiales, former women's national team coach Jorge Vilda, former Spanish football federation (RFEF) sporting director Albert Luque and the RFEF's former head of marketing Ruben Rivera are also on trial for their suspected roles in pressuring Hermoso.

The prosecution is seeking 2-1/2 years' prison for Rubiales, although in Spain those handed sentences under two years can usually escape incarceration by paying damages instead if they do not have prior convictions.

After Spain beat England in Sydney on Aug. 20, 2023, Rubiales clutched his crotch in celebration on the final whistle while standing near Spain's Queen Letizia and her daughter Princess Sofia.

Later, during the medal presentation, he lifted Hermoso off her feet then grabbed her by the head and appeared to pull her toward him to kiss her on the lips in front of a packed stadium and enormous global TV audience.

Hermoso's first reaction was to tell teammates: "Hey, I didn't like it", according to locker room footage.

COERCION?

Prosecutors say she was pulled aside on the bus to the airport and asked to approve a statement in her name downplaying the incident, which she says she refused to do.

Vilda then approached Hermoso's brother Rafael on the plane back to Madrid and warned him that his sister's football career would suffer if she did not agree to record a video backing Rubiales' claim the kiss was consensual, according to prosecutors.

Rubiales initially called his critics idiots before later apologising, saying the brief kiss was "without bad faith at a time of maximum effusiveness." He has cast himself as a victim of a campaign by "false feminists."

For many, the scandal was a window into male dominance of power and spoils in the lucrative football business.

As outrage grew, with public protests and Hermoso's mother going on hunger strike, key RFEF executives fell like dominos.

After Rubiales was forced to step down, his replacement and right-hand man Pedro Rocha was suspended for "very serious misconduct," while the Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear an appeal by Rafael Louzan, recently elected new soccer head, to determine if his malfeasance conviction, which bars him from holding public office for seven years, stands.

Rubiales and Rocha are under investigation for corruption in a separate case.

Rubiales lost his job after initially refusing to resign and in October 2023 was banned from all football-related activities for three years by world governing body FIFA.

Rubiales has called his daughters to testify while several of Hermoso's Spanish teammates will also provide evidence.

Hermoso, Spain's all-time top scorer who currently plays for Tigres UANL in Mexico, will take the stand on Monday.

Rubiales and his co-defendants will testify on or after Feb. 12 once the court has interviewed the rest of the witnesses.

(Reporting by Charlie Devereux and Emma Pinedo; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)