PRISON SENTENCE SOUGHT FOR FOOTBALL CHIEF WHO KISSED FEMALE PLAYER WITHOUT CONSENT

A Spanish prosecutor is reportedly seeking a prison sentence for the former football boss who kissed a female player after Spain won the women's World Cup.

Luis Rubiales, 46, kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain's 1-0 final win over England last August in Sydney.

Hermoso, 33, has testified in court that the kiss was not consensual.

Marta Durantez, a prosecutor at Spain's High Court, has charged Rubiales with one count of sexual assault and one of coercion for his alleged actions in the aftermath of the kiss, Reuters reported.

The offences carry jail terms of one year and one-and-a-half years respectively,

Ms Durantez has also accused the former coach of Spain's women's national team Jorge Vilda, the team's current sporting director Albert Luque and the federation's head of marketing Ruben Rivera of coercing Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.

All three denied wrongdoing when they appeared before the court in Madrid, Reuters said.

Ms Durantez is also seeking damages of £43,000 from Rubiales for Hermoso, with another £43,000 to be paid jointly by Rubiales, Vilda, Luque and Rivera.

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Were Rubiales to be convicted and given the sentences Ms Durantez is recommending, he would not necessarily go to jail.

Spain's criminal code allows judges to suspend a sentence if - as in this case - no sentence exceeds two years individually.

Rubiales was banned from all football-related activities for three years last October, FIFA said.

World football's governing body found Rubiales had breached article 13 of FIFA's disciplinary code after kissing Hermoso.

In January, a Spanish judge said Rubiales should stand trial over the kiss.

2024-03-27T20:48:33Z dg43tfdfdgfd