Three more people are now being investigated in the kissing scandal surrounding Luis Rubiales, the now resigned head of the Spanish Football Association RFEF.
The Spanish said they were the former coach of the women’s national team, Jorge Vilda, who led his team to the World Cup title in Australia in August, as well as the RFEF directors Rubén Rivera (marketing) and Albert Luque (men’s national team). State Court in Madrid. The responsible judge, Francisco de Jorge, had summoned the three to a hearing on October 10th, it was said.
Rubiales kissed world champion Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth against her will on August 20th at the World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney. The 33-year-old player was then said to have been put under pressure by RFEF officials on the flight back to Spain, against the background of the emerging global outrage, so that she would exonerate Rubiales and give her consent. According to Spanish media reports, the judge has evidence that Vilda, Rivera and Luque were part of the group that tried to persuade Hermoso to do so. Vilda was replaced as national coach by Montse Tomé shortly after the World Cup.
Three players summoned
In addition to Rubiales and Hermoso, Judge de Jorge has already interviewed several witnesses and experts. Further hearings are scheduled for this Thursday and next Monday, some of which will take place via video conference. Among other things, three players from the world champion team were summoned for Monday. According to the media, these are world footballer Alexia Putellas, captain Irene Paredes and Misa Rodríguez.
After Rubiales’ hearing, the judge ordered on September 15 that the 46-year-old could only come within 200 meters of Hermoso and not have any contact with her. Rubiales asserts that Hermoso consented to the kiss. However, the player explained that she felt “the victim of an impulsive, sexist and inappropriate act that I did not consent to.”
The investigating judge must decide whether the accused should be put in the dock. According to experts, Rubiales faces a prison sentence of up to four years in this case.