September 15 – Luis Rubiales, the now former president of the Spanish FA and ex-vice president of Uefa, went to the High Court in Madrid today to give his eagerly awaited testimony to prosecutors investigating his infamous kiss on the lips of World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso.
The court immediately imposed a restraining order to prevent Rubiales approaching Hermoso as the investigation began into alleged sexual assault.
The case has triggered a furore over sexism in Spanish sport and society at large and Rubiales’ appearance came just days after he bowed to global pressure and resigned.
Still unrepentant, he said nothing as he walked into the national court to face accusations of sexual assault and coercion having always insisted he had Hermoso’s consent.
The restraining order prevents him from trying to contact Hermoso or coming within 200 metres of her. But judge Francisco de Jorge rejected a request by the prosecution that Rubiales should report to the court every two weeks.
When Rubiales left the court with his lawyer following a closed-door investigative hearing that lasted about an hour, he again did not speak to the media waiting outside.
During his testimony, Rubiales denied the accusations according to a statement by the prosecutor’s office. But the judge will examine evidence before deciding whether to bring formal charges and advance the case to trial. If it goes that far Rubiales could face a fine or even a jail sentence if he is found guilty.
De Jorge reportedly has asked to see the moment of the kiss “from all angles” and has also asked for a video of World Cup-winning celebrations in the dressing room and from the team bus as it left the stadium in Sydney.
“I have faith in the truth and I will do everything in my power so that it prevails,” Rubiales declared after quitting the most powerful job in Spanish football.
But when Hermoso told prosecutors that Rubiales kissed her on the mouth without her consent, the state prosecutor filed a judicial complaint.
“We can stand up what we said from the beginning. It was a kiss without consent, everyone saw the images,” Hermoso’s lawyer Carla Vall told reporters after Friday’s hearing.
Scores of players, sports bodies and politicians have backed Hermoso while more than 80 of Spain’s top female players have refused to play for the national team until there are changes in the RFEF management line-up and style.
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