In August of last year in Sydney, after Spain defeated England 1-0 in the final, Luis Rubiales, 46, planted a kiss on Jenni Hermoso’s lips.
Rubiales has been charged with one case of sexual assault and one count of compulsion by prosecutor Marta Durantez of Spain’s High Court for his alleged conduct following the kiss, according to Reuters.
The sentences for the offenses are one year and one and a half years in prison, respectively.
Additionally, Ms. Durantez has charged that Hermoso was forced into signing a contract by the federation’s head of marketing Ruben Rivera, the team’s current sporting director Albert Luque, and former coach of Spain’s women’s national team Jorge Vilda.
Rubiales might not go to jail even if he were found guilty and given the penalties that Ms. Durantez is suggesting.
According to Spain’s penal code, judges are permitted to suspend a sentence if, as in this instance, no term is more than two years in length.
FIFA said in October of last year that Rubiales had been barred from any football-related activity for three years.
After kissing Hermoso, Rubiales violated FIFA’s disciplinary policy, according to the world football governing body.
A Spanish judge declared in January that Rubiales need to be put on trial for the kiss.
