Under-fire Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales is facing fresh fallout over the Women's World Cup kiss scandal, with star player Jenni Hermoso lodging an official criminal complaint against him. FIFA has provisionally suspended Spanish football president Rubiales after he kissed Hermoso on the mouth while celebrating Spain's World Cup triumph in Sydney.
The messy saga took another ugly turn this week with Jorge Vilda sacked as Spain's women's football coach, weeks after guiding his side to WorldCup glory. Vilda was among those seen applauding Rubiales after the Spanish football boss defiantly declared last week that he was refusing to resign over the scandal and would fight to clear his name.
Hermoso claims the kiss was not consensual - something Rubiales vehemently disputes. She has now lodged an official criminal complaint over the unsolicited kiss after giving her testimony to authorities on Tuesday in Spain. The country's national prosecutor's office says the complaint will be processed "as soon as possible".
Women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso has filed a criminal complaint against Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales over his now infamous kiss. Pic: Getty
Under-fire Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales is facing fresh fallout over the Women's World Cup kiss scandal, with star player Jenni Hermoso lodging an official criminal complaint against him. FIFA has provisionally suspended Spanish football president Rubiales after he kissed Hermoso on the mouth while celebrating Spain's World Cup triumph in Sydney. The messy saga took another ugly turn this week with Jorge Vilda sacked as Spain's women's football coach, weeks after guiding his side to World Cup glory. Vilda was among those seen applauding Rubiales after the Spanish football boss defiantly declared last week that he was refusing to resign over the scandal and would fight to clear his name.
Hermoso claims the kiss was not consensual - something Rubiales vehemently disputes. She has now lodged an official criminal complaint over the unsolicited kiss after giving her testimony to authorities on Tuesday in Spain. The country's national prosecutor's office says the complaint will be processed "as soon as possible".
It means Rubiales could face criminal charges in addition to the ongoing inquiry by Spain's top sport court for "serious misconduct" and his provisional suspension by FIFA, whose own investigation remains ongoing. The prosecutor for Spain's High Court had already indicated that if Hermoso were to file a complaint then Rubiales could face a sexual assault charge, which carries a prison term of between one and four years. The High Court has jurisdiction over the case as the incident took place abroad.
Hermoso said she did not want to be kissed, and that she felt "vulnerable and a victim of an aggression" and initially felt forced to present a version of events supporting the under-fire football boss.
Rubiales, who has so refused to resign despite immense pressure from within Spain and around the world, said the kiss was "spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual". His behaviour has sparked global outrage, with protesters taking to the streets of Spain to rally against him in support of Hermoso and the rights of women in general.
Rubiales also grabbed his crotch while standing close to Spain's Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter during the final match. Some 81 Spain players, including all 23 Women's World Cup winners, have indicated they will not play for the national side again while Rubiales is in charge.
