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A prosecutor has filed a criticism with Spain’s excessive court docket 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 closing win, which she says was not consensual.
Hermoso filed a authorized criticism over the kiss on Tuesday.
It’s now as much as the court docket to current formal costs in opposition to the 46-year-old.
Hermoso’s criticism was one in all sexual assault however prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil has additionally added an allegation of coercion when submitting to the excessive court docket.
An announcement from the prosecutor’s workplace stated Hermoso instructed Gil that her kinfolk had suffered strain from Rubiales and his “skilled entourage” to say that she “justified and authorised 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 info is gathered from authorities in Australia, the place the incident happened.
Previous to the kiss, Rubiales had been seen grabbing his crotch whereas celebrating Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sydney.
A excessive court docket decide will now assess the criticism and resolve whether or not to simply accept or archive the request. If accepted, a Justice of the Peace will probably be assigned to guide an investigation, which can conclude both with a suggestion for the case to go to trial or be dismissed.
The cost of sexual assault beneath Spanish regulation can carry a punishment starting from a effective to 4 years in jail.
“The excessive court docket usually tackles crimes with a global dimension, corresponding to terrorism or organised crime. It’s concerned on this case as a result of the alleged assault by Mr Rubiales happened in Australia,” BBC Madrid correspondent Man Hedgecoe defined.
Spanish prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation on 28 August, wanting into whether or not the incident quantities to a criminal offense of sexual assault.
On the time, Spain’s prime legal court docket stated it was opening its investigation in mild 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 known as on Rubiales to resign final month however he has refused to step down because the 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 stop.
Politicians, footballers and celebrities have spoken out in opposition to Rubiales, whereas protesters gathered on the RFEF headquarters to demand his resignation.
