Former president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales along with three other officials,are set to appear before a judge on Tuesday over allegations related to the controversial kiss involving player Jenni Hermoso at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

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Rubiales faces charges of sexual assault, while ex-women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, former men's national team sports director Albert Luque, and former marketing chief Ruben Rivera are accused of coercion.

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Prosecutors allege that the three attempted to pressure Hermoso into publicly backing Rubiales' claim that the kiss was consensual.

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Hermoso, however, maintains that she did not consent, while Rubiales has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, insisting the act was mutual.

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https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4_h34UFct50

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The fallout from the incident led to his resignation three weeks later amid mounting criticism, and FIFA subsequently handed him a three-year ban. Rubiales has defended himself against the accusations, calling the scandal a “witch hunt” driven by “false feminists.”

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During her testimony on the first day of the trial last week, Jenni Hermoso expressed feeling "disrespected" by Luis Rubiales after Spain’s World Cup victory. She stated that the kiss had "tarnished one of the happiest days of my life."

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The incident sparked widespread outrage in Spain, reigniting discussions about sexism in sports and society at large.

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Prosecutors, along with Hermoso and the Spanish players' association, are seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales, along with a €50,000 ($51,800) fine for damages and a ban from holding any sports-related position.

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Meanwhile, they are calling for the other three defendants to receive one-and-a-half-year prison terms.

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