Rubiales denies wrongdoing to Spanish judge investigating his kiss of player at Women’s World Cup

Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish soccer federation, denied any wrongdoing when questioned by a judge investigating his kissing a player on the lips last month at the Women’s World Cup, Spain’s state prosecutors’ office said Friday.

Judge Francisco de Jorge earlier this week ordered Rubiales to answer questions at Spain’s National Court.

Rubiales kissed Spain forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the awards ceremony after Spain beat England to win the title on Aug. 20 in Sydney, Australia. He said she had consented to the kiss, but Hermoso has denied that repeatedly.

The state prosecutors’ office said Rubiales denied both accusations when answering questions by the judge in an hour-long hearing that was closed to the public.

Neither Rubiales or his defence lawyer, Olga Tubau, spoke to the media outside the National Court.

Hermoso’s lawyer satisfied with hearing

Hermoso’s lawyer, Carla Vall i Duran, said they were satisfied with the hearing.

State prosecutors asked the judge to consider issuing a restraining order to prohibit Rubiales from coming within 500 metres or Hermoso or trying to communicate with her, as well as a requirement for him to check in with a court every 15 days to ensure he does not flee the country. The judge will have to decide whether to apply those measures.

The 46-year-old Rubiales finally folded Sunday under immense pressure from government and soccer authorities and announced that he was resigning from his post as president of the soccer federation. He he had already been provisionally suspended by soccer governing body FIFA.

De Jorge is carrying out the preliminary investigation into the accusations against Rubiales, and will then decide whether the case should go to trial.

Hermoso had already given testimony to state prosecutors when she accused Rubiales of sexual assault last week, before she left Spain to join her Mexican club, Pachuca.

In the days following the World Cup final, Rubiales said that the kiss was “mutual” and like one “I could give one of my daughters.”

Hermoso responded by saying that was a lie.

“I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part,” Hermoso said in a statement posted on social media. “Simply put, I was not respected.”

Earlier this month, the Spanish soccer federation fired women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda amid the controversy involving Rubiales. The coach was among those who applauded Rubiales when he intially efused to resign despite facing widespread criticism for kissing Hermoso on the lips without her consent. 

Montse Tome was appointed as Vilda’s replacement, making her the first woman to hold the job. She had been one of Vilda’s assistant coaches since 2018.