Luis Rubiales trial opens over allegations of assault against Jenni Hermoso

Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, is on trial for kissing World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso without consent during the medal ceremony following Spain's victory in the 2023 Women's World Cup. Rubiales faces charges of sexual assault and coercion, accused of pressuring Hermoso into declaring the kiss consensual, which she has denied. The incident triggered a backlash against sexism in sports and galvanized a #MeToo movement within Spanish football. The prosecution is seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales, while his co-defendants—former coach Jorge Vilda, sporting director Albert Luque, and marketing chief Ruben Rivera—are implicated in coercion and face potential sentences of 18 months each. Testimony will include Hermoso and several teammates, with the trial expected to last around nine days. The case has drawn significant public attention, overshadowing Spain's historic victory and highlighting systemic issues within Spanish football.