The former RFEF president is accused of sexual assault and coercion after the incident at the 2023 Women's World Cup final

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Luis Rubiales' trial begins for kissing Jenni Hermoso

The trial against Luis Rubiales, former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), begins this Monday, 3 February 2025, at the National Court. The legal case, which has generated enormous media and social impact, revolves around the non-consensual kiss that the former executive gave to the footballer Jennifer Hermoso during the medal ceremony after the final of the 2023 Women's World Cup. In addition to Rubiales himself, Jorge Vilda (former national team coach), Albert Luque (former RFEF sports director) and Rubén Rivera (former marketing director), who allegedly coerced the player to publicly support the then president of the Federation, are also charged.

The Public Prosecutor's Office is asking for two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, divided into one year for sexual assault and one and a half years for coercion, considering that the forced kiss constituted an attack on the player's sexual freedom. For their part, Vilda, Luque and Rivera face a year and a half in prison for allegedly having pressured Hermoso and her entourage with the aim of minimising the impact of the case and favouring Rubiales' version.

A trial with great media expectation

The trial, which will take place in the Criminal Court of the Audiencia Nacional, will begin with the testimony of 26 witnesses, including important figures in Spanish football such as Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes and Misa Rodríguez, Hermoso's teammates in the national team. These footballers were some of the most vocal in their support for Hermoso and in their denunciation of the structural machismo within the RFEF.

Throughout the investigation, judge Francisca Verdú has gathered evidence that reinforces the prosecution's thesis, including videos of the incident, WhatsApp messages and testimonies that demonstrate the pressure exerted on the player to minimise the impact of the kiss. According to the case file, in the days following the scandal, several members of the Federation tried to convince Hermoso to publicly declare that the gesture had been consensual, something that the player repeatedly denied.

The trial, as stated in a court order of the Central Criminal Court, will be held at the San Fernando de Henares court on 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18 and 19 at 10 am.