What's happened
Former Spanish Football Federation President, Luis Rubiales, will stand trial for allegedly kissing a female player, Jennifer Hermoso, after Spain's women's World Cup victory. Rubiales faces charges of sexual assault and coercion for the incident, which has sparked a national debate about sexism in Spain. The court set a bail of
€65,000 for the sexual assault charge. Rubiales has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the kiss was consensual.
Why it matters
The trial of Luis Rubiales, a former prominent figure in Spanish football, for alleged sexual assault and coercion has significant implications for the ongoing debate on sexism and power imbalances in sports. The outcome of the trial could set a precedent for addressing similar issues in the future and may impact the way such incidents are handled within sports organizations.
What the papers say
According to Sky News, Luis Rubiales faces trial for kissing Jennifer Hermoso after Spain's women's World Cup win, with Hermoso testifying that the kiss was non-consensual. The New York Times reports that Rubiales is accused of pressuring Hermoso to support him after the incident. The Guardian highlights the global attention the case received and the differing perspectives on the nature of the kiss.
How we got here
The case stems from an incident where Luis Rubiales kissed Jennifer Hermoso on the lips after Spain's women's World Cup victory, leading to allegations of sexual assault and coercion. The court's decision to try Rubiales, along with other former soccer officials, has brought attention to issues of consent and power dynamics within sports organizations.
More on these topics
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Jennifer Hermoso Fuentes, commonly known as Jenni, is a Spanish footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and for the Spain women's national football team. Hermoso is the all-time top scorer for both Barcelona and Spain.
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Luis Manuel Rubiales Béjar is a Spanish football official and former professional player who played as a defender. He is the current president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
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Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southwestern Europe with some pockets of territory across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean. Its continental European territory is situated on the Iberian Peninsula.