The World Cup kiss controversy’s central figure, Luis Rubiales, has now been charged with sexual assault.
The 46-year-old head of the Spanish FA kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips without asking for permission after Hermoso had assisted La Roja in winning the World Cup with a 1-0 victory against England.
Attacking midfielder Hermoso for Pachuca said she “didn’t like” it when Rubiales grabbed her, held her in a tight hug, and then kissed her on the lips on the platform after the game.
Rubiales subsequently apologised grudgingly for his actions after originally defending them.
In addition, he grabbed his privates, which Megan Rapinoe, a legend in the USA, said was a “signal of a deep level of misogyny and sexism” and argued that his kiss constituted a “physical assault.”
Miguel Angel Galán, the president of the Spanish Football Federation, has since complained to the State Attorney General’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office in Madrid, claiming that Rubiales’ conduct amounted to sexual assault.
Galan, president of CENAFE – the country’s national school for football coaches – said: ‘I would like to file a complaint against Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Soccer Federation, for committing an alleged crime of sexual assault against the Spanish women’s soccer team’s Jennifer Hermoso.
‘This was an intolerable act of sexist behaviour within our sport, which could constitute an alleged crime of sexual assault. I therefore request that a complaint be filed’.
With his most recent measures taking the criminal path, Galan had already filed a formal complaint with both the Spanish FA (RFEF) and the National Sports Council of Spain (CSD).
Rubiales was condemned by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who also requested an explanation of the kiss.
Ian Herbert of Mail Sport called Rubiales “reptilian” and “creepy,” and it was revealed that Rubiales allegedly requested Hermoso to record an apologetic video with him.
The Spanish FA has scheduled an urgent AGM for this Friday to examine the matter, and an internal probe is already underway, according to Spanish media source AS.
Despite the issue, Rubiales is not believed to be contemplating leaving his post.
He said in his apology: “There is also something I regret and it’s over something that happened between a female player and myself who enjoy a magnificent relationship the same as I have with other women players. I’ve no doubt made a mistake and I have to admit it.
“At a moment of maximum excitement, without any bad intention or bad faith, what happened happened in a very spontaneous manner, I repeat without bad faith on either side… it has caused a controversy in some sectors and some people appear to have been upset and therefore I have to apologise… I have to learn from this.”
The announcement came the same day when Mail Sport claimed that during the World Cup victory celebrations, Spain coach Jorge Vilda seemed to grasp a female staff member’s breast.
The Spanish staff celebrated Olga Carmona’s 29th-minute goal against the Lionesses seconds later, with Vilda’s left hand on a female staff member’s breast.
Vilda has also been accused of controlling players, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that he forced them to keep their room doors open until midnight to check for himself before bed.
Vilda was supposed to close the door and turn out the lights. After concerns, these practises were abandoned after the 2019 World Cup, although camp liberties are still severely limited.
Vilda’s supervision is so extreme that he checks players’ luggage when they return from shopping and requires them to indicate who they’re meeting whenever they leave camp. All movement is monitored.
In 2022, 15 players informed the Spanish FA that Vilda was “damaging their mental health” and would no be eligible for selection.
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