Glum-faced ex-Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales leaves court after denying wrongdoing over World Cup kiss on Jenni Hermoso
EX-SPANISH FA chief Luis Rubiales denied any wrongdoing when quizzed over his kiss with Jenni Hermoso.
The former football president, 46, was pictured leaving the court today after he was questioned by a judge over the kiss to the World Cup-winning player.
Zuma PressRubiales denied any wrongdoing[/caption]
ReutersLuis Rubiales has been hauled into court over his kiss with Jenni Hermoso[/caption]
EnterpriseHe quit as Spanish FA chief amid the scandal[/caption]
Rubiales sensationally quit as FA chief and UEFA vice-president amid the scandal.
But he remains unrepentant and has insisted he would “defend his innocence”.
He and his lawyer Olga Tubau were today pictured arriving at the Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid 50 minutes before the scheduled closed-door hearing.
Rubiales, wearing a white shirt and a dark suit, kept a deadpan expression as he walked into the building to be questioned by Judge Francisco de Jorge.
Judge de Jorge launched a criminal investigation into suspected sexual assault after a formal complaint was made by prosecutors.
Hermoso told prosecutors that Rubiales kissed her on the mouth without her consent while holding her head with both hands.
The prosecutor added a possible crime of coercion after Hermoso said she and her relatives were put under pressure by Rubiales and his entourage to say that she approved what happened.
The judge’s investigation precedes any formal charges under Spanish law and will decide whether the case goes to trial.
If it does, Rubiales could face between one and four years imprisonment if found guilty.
Judge de Jorge has ordered media, including state broadcaster TVE, to send him footage of the incident and subsequent videos such as one with the players celebrating on a bus with Rubiales and referring to the kiss in what appeared to be a light-hearted manner.
The investigation could take several months.
It comes after Hermoso, 33, claimed she “felt vulnerable and the victim of aggression” after the kiss.
Footage appeared to show Rubiales planting a kiss on the player after Spain triumphed over England at the Women’s World Cup final last month.
Rubiales initially refused to resign and blamed “false feminism” for his “social assassination”.
He has since quit – but has continued to protest his innocence.
Rubiales tweeted: “I will defend my honour. I will defend my innocence.
“I have faith in the future. I have faith in the truth.”
He claimed the kiss was “affectionate” and Hermoso had “consented”.
Hermoso herself hit back the following day, denying the former FA chief’s claim that the kiss was consensual.
In a sit-down chat with Piers Morgan on TalkTV, Rubiales again doubled-down on his actions and called the kiss “noble”.
He said: “You can imagine if you win the lottery or hopefully soon one day the war in the Ukraine finishes, I mean celebrations will go on up and down the globe.
“People don’t ask permissions, it’s just a happy, happy time and people celebrate.
“This has turned out to be a snowball created by spurious arguments and people.
“My intentions were noble, enthusiastic, 100 per cent non-sexual, 100 per cent, I repeat, 100 per cent.”
During the interview he was repeatedly pressed by Piers to apologise to Hermoso – but he insisted it was a misunderstanding.
Prosecutors also understood to have received complaints of “obscene exhibitionism before a minor” when Rubiales appeared to grab his crotch in the stands next to Spain’s Princess Infanta Sofía.
He apologised to the Spanish royal family previously for the display, saying: “I apologise to the Queen and the Infanta for a very unedifying gesture. I do not justify myself: sorry.”
ReutersHe kept a straight face as he walked into Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid[/caption]
GettyRubiales walked beside his his lawyer Olga Tubau[/caption]
