Rubiales trial set to open with former Spanish FA president charged with assault and coercion

The trial of disgraced ex-Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales is set to start today as the former football chief finds out his fate after being charged with offences relating to his controversial kiss with women’s national team player Jennifer Hermoso. 

Rubiales was seen on camera grabbing and kissing Hermoso after Spain claimed victory over England in the final of the 2023 FIFA World Cup, sparking an earth-shattering saga that became known as the Kissgate scandal. 

After weeks of rejecting calls to resign as president of the Spanish FA following the controversial smooch, Rubiales finally succumbed to pressure and announced that he would be stepping down from his position in the RFEF. 

Despite his resignation, Rubiales was adamant that he was innocent of the charges of sexual assault, describing the kiss between him and Hermoso as consensual, despite the player’s claims to the contrary. 

Speaking during the interview with Piers Morgan when he announced his decision to resign, Rubiales claimed that the kiss had been agreed upon, saying, "I am a good person, that in a moment of maximum happiness, with consent, asking beforehand...In truth, there can be no other intention than the celebration and the joy itself."

However, this contradicts another statement attributed to Rubiales about the same incident, when he said that given the atmosphere after winning the World Cup, it was normal that "people don't ask permissions."

In spite of his claims to the contrary, Rubiales still had charges brought against him by Spanish prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil following the complaint lodged by Hermoso, the player involved in the incident. 

Rubiales’ case will be heard by a Spanish High Court under a new "Solo si es si" (Only yes is yes) law which aims to deal specifically with cases of sexual assault. 

The former RFEF president is also being tried for coercion after Hermoso claimed that Rubiales used his position as head of the country’s FA to try and force her and her relatives to back his explanation of the kiss being consensual. 

If found guilty, Rubiales could be facing between one to four years in jail, likely putting an end to his football administration career.