A Spanish judge has proposed that former football federation president Luis Rubiales should stand trial for a non-consensual kiss involving captain Jenni Hermoso during the women’s World Cup celebration. The judge in Madrid described the kiss as “not consensual” and deemed it a “unilateral and surprising initiative,” finding enough evidence for the matter to proceed to trial. Rubiales, who denies any wrongdoing, faces charges of sexual assault and coercion, with potential penalties ranging from a fine to four years in prison.

In addition to Rubiales, other football executives are implicated in the case. Hermoso’s former coach, Jorge Vilda, former marketing manager Rubén Rivera, and the sports director of the men’s team, Albert Luque, have been ordered to stand trial. They are accused of pressuring Hermoso to publicly state that the kiss was consensual. The judge’s decision implies that all involved parties will have to face legal proceedings to determine their culpability in the controversial incident.

The incident occurred during the medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20 last year, following Spain’s victory over England. Despite initially indicating in a statement that the kiss was consensual, Hermoso later complained of being pressured by officials from the Spanish football federation to endorse the statement. The conflicting narratives surrounding the incident have drawn attention to issues of consent and sexism in women’s sports, triggering a wave of global criticism and discussions on the treatment of female athletes at the highest levels of competition.

Luis Rubiales, who had maintained that the kiss was a “consensual peck,” was compelled to resign as president of the Spanish football federation in the aftermath of the incident. The judge’s decision to proceed with a trial indicates the legal ramifications that the individuals involved may face as the case unfolds.

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