A prosecutor has filed a criticism with Spain’s excessive courtroom in opposition to suspended soccer federation president Luis Rubiales for sexual assault and coercion.
Rubiales kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s Girls’s World Cup last win, which she says was not consensual.
Hermoso filed a authorized criticism over the kiss on Tuesday.
It’s now as much as the courtroom to current formal fees in opposition to the 46-year-old.
Hermoso’s criticism was considered one of sexual assault however prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil has additionally added an allegation of coercion when submitting to the excessive courtroom.
An announcement from the prosecutor’s workplace mentioned Hermoso informed Gil that her relations had suffered strain from Rubiales and his “skilled entourage” to say that she “justified and accepted what occurred”.
“The prosecutors request that Luis Rubiales be questioned as an accused and Jenni Hermoso as a sufferer,” the prosecutor’s workplace added.
It additionally requests that data is gathered from authorities in Australia, the place the incident occurred.
Previous to the kiss, Rubiales had been seen grabbing his crotch whereas celebrating Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sydney.
A excessive courtroom choose will now assess the criticism and determine whether or not to simply accept or archive the request. If accepted, a Justice of the Peace might be assigned to steer an investigation, which is able to conclude both with a suggestion for the case to go to trial or be dismissed.
The cost of sexual assault underneath Spanish legislation can carry a punishment starting from a wonderful to 4 years in jail.
“The excessive courtroom usually tackles crimes with a global dimension, akin to terrorism or organised crime. It’s concerned on this case as a result of the alleged assault by Mr Rubiales occurred in Australia,” BBC Madrid correspondent Man Hedgecoe defined.
Spanish prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation on 28 August, trying into whether or not the incident quantities to a criminal offense of sexual assault.
On the time, Spain’s prime felony courtroom mentioned it was opening its investigation in gentle of the “unequivocal nature” of 33-year-old Hermoso’s statements, saying it was crucial “to find out their authorized significance”.
Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF) regional leaders referred to as on Rubiales to resign final month however he has refused to step down for the reason that incident, telling a rare basic meeting “I can’t resign, I can’t resign”, and claiming “a social assassination is going down”.
Soccer’s world governing physique Fifa provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days and opened disciplinary proceedings in opposition to him.
World Cup-winning supervisor Jorge Vilda was sacked on 5 September amid the continued scandal.
Earlier than he was sacked, most of Vilda’s teaching employees resigned and 81 gamers refused to play for Spain in protest at Rubiales’ actions and refusal to give up.
Politicians, footballers and celebrities have spoken out in opposition to Rubiales, whereas protesters gathered on the RFEF headquarters to demand his resignation.