Image Credit: Sky Sport
Spanish female footballer, Jenni Hermoso, has filed a criminal complaint against Spanish FA suspended president, Luis Rubiales over a kissing incident that happened between the duo during the celebration of the country’s triumph at the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Hermoso gave her testimony on Tuesday and the complaint will be processed "as soon as possible", the prosecutor said.
This means that the suspended FA president is at risk of facing criminal charges for what transpired between him and Hermoso, Sky Sports reports.
Rubiales has been suspended by FIFA for his behaviour but refused to resign.
SaharaReporters had reported that Hermoso said she did not consent to being kissed by Rubiales.
In a statement released by the women players’ union Futpro, Hermoso and 80 other players said they would not accept an international call-up “if the current leadership continues” at the Spanish football federation.
Rubiales, 46, said in a defiant speech at an emergency RFEF meeting that his kiss on Hermoso’s lips was “mutual, euphoric and consensual” and that she had said “OK” when he asked her if he could give her “a peck”.
He also asserted that “she was the one who lifted me in her arms and brought me close to her body”.
However, Hermoso hit back strongly against Rubiales’ claims.
“I want to clarify that at no time did I consent to the kiss that he gave me and in no case did I seek to lift up the president,” Hermoso said in the Futpro statement.
“I do not tolerate my word being questioned and much less that they invent words that I did not say.”
Futpro said in the statement that every player signing it, which included the 23 World Cup winners, was taking a stand.
“We want to finish this statement asking for real structural changes, that help the national team to keep growing, to be able to transfer this great success to later generations,” it read.
“It fills us with sadness that such an unacceptable event is succeeding in tarnishing the greatest sporting success of Spanish women’s football.
“After all that happened during the medal ceremony at the Women’s World Cup, we wish to declare that all the players signing this document will not return to a national team squad if the current leadership continues.”
Many players, including double Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, had written messages of support for Hermoso on social media, some including the phrase “it’s over” — potentially referring to Rubiales’ leadership of Spanish football.