Prosecutors seek two-and-a-half years for Rubiales

Spanish prosecutors have asked for a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for former Spanish football president Luis Rubiales, who is on trial for forcibly kissing Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips after winning the Women's World Cup.

TThe forced kiss, caught on live camera around the world, sparked widespread outrage and led to his suspension by world football's governing body FIFA.

Two-and-a-half years in prison is the sentence demanded by Spanish prosecutors for Luis Rubiales, who is accused of sexually assaulting and coercing footballer Jenni Hermoso minutes after Spain won the Women's World Cup.

Prosecutors also want Rubiales, who was president of Spanish football until the controversial kiss during the World Cup celebrations in Australia, to pay Hermoso at least €50,000 in compensation, according to a document sent to Spain's National Court.

During the incident, which took place on 20 August 2023 after Spain defeated England to win the Women's World Cup final in Australia, Rubiales held Hermoso's head with both hands and forcibly kissed her on the lips.

What looked like a celebration at the time turned out to be anything but. Rubiales played it down as a "consensual peck" or a small kiss on the mouth, with the player's consent. But she said otherwise.

Spain's first women's world title was overshadowed by Rubiales' kiss to Hermoso. GETTY IMAGES

Under Spanish law, a non-consensual kiss can be classified as sexual assault, a category of crime that includes all forms of sexual violence.

According to the complainant, after realising that the kiss could have "personal and professional consequences" with his suspension by FIFA on 26 August 2023, Rubiales and his entourage began to put "constant pressure" on her to publicly justify the kiss as consensual. Prosecutors requested that the 46-year-old be sentenced to one year in prison for the incident and 18 months for the coercion charge, which would ideally add up to two-and-a-half years.

In addition to Rubiales, three of his former associates are also on trial for pressuring Hermoso: former women's coach Jorge Vilda, men's team director Albert Luque and RFEF marketing director Rubén Rivera.

Hermoso filed a lawsuit against Rubiales in September 2023, telling the judge that she had been pressured to defend him both on the return flight from Australia and during a subsequent team holiday in the Balearic Islands.