Spain’s top criminal court will investigate whether the unwanted kiss planted on soccer player Jenni Hermoso amounted to sexual assault.
Spain’s football federation president Luis Rubiales has been suspended by FIFA — but has refused to resign — for kissing Hermoso without her consent when the country won the World Cup.
Spain’s court said it was looking into the incident and legal experts would contact Hermoso to offer her the option of legal action.
“Given the public statements made by Jennifer Hermoso, the sexual act she was subjected to by Luis Rubiales was not consensual,” said a statement from the court.
“In order to proceed with a case for sexual assault, harassment or sexual abuse, it will be necessary for the injured party or their legal representative to file suit, or the public prosecutors’ office.”
Rubiales is facing a torrent of criticism from around the globe over his behaviour after Spain’s 1-0 win over England in the final in Sydney.
The ongoing furore has focused intense scrutiny him and his five-year management of the federation.
Rubiales’ mother reacted to the public outcry by starting a hunger strike in a church in a area of southern Spain where Rubiales grew up.
Angeles Bejar locked herself in the Divina Pastora church in Motril and said she was protesting “the bloody and inhumane hounding” of her son.
She said it was “something he does not deserve”.
Rubiales’ cousin Vanessa Ruiz told the BBC: “We are suffering a lot for him. He has been judged before his time.
“They (the media) don’t stop harassing us. We had to leave our house. We want them to leave us alone and for Jenni to tell the truth. It’s not fair.”
Meanwhile, the Spanish soccer federation made a move widely seen as an attempt to silence some of Rubiales’ critics.
The federation asked to be suspended from international competitions because of government interference over demands to remove Rubiales from office.
A suspension would ban Spanish teams from competitions like the Champions League and could sway public opinion in favour of letting him keep his job.
Soccer’s governing bodies have long-standing rules barring national governments from interfering with the running of the domestic soccer federations.
However, the Union of European Football Associations would not comply with the Spanish federation’s request for a sanction, a person familiar with the issue told The Associated Press.
The unprecedented suspension request by the Spanish federation seemed like a leverage play against its critics by trying to provoke fans and powerful clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, plus the men’s national team, into backing its efforts to save Rubiales’ job.
Rubiales is also a UEFA vice president.
Spain’s top clubs are due to take part in this week’s Champions League group-stage draw being made by UEFA, and the men’s national team has games on September 8 and 12 in qualifying for the 2024 European Championship.
FIFA opened a disciplinary case against Rubiales last week after taking control of the process because it organised the Women’s World Cup.
The FIFA suspension prevents Rubiales taking part in official business and having contact with other officials, including in Spain’s bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal, Morocco and possibly Ukraine.
FIFA disciplinary judge Jorge Palacio also ordered Rubiales and the federation not to contact Hermoso. She has said the federation pressured her to publicly back Rubiales.
Newly crowned as world champions, though drawn into a national scandal they did not seek and has distracted from their triumph, the Spain players have said they will not play any more games for as long as Rubiales is in charge.
