Luis Rubiales: Prosecutors seek 2.5-year jail term over World Cup kiss

[weeksy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68679506

Spanish prosecutors want the ex-head of the country's football federation to be jailed for two-and-a-half years, after he kissed a female footballer against her will at Spain's World Cup victory.

Luis Rubiales is facing charges of sexual assault and coercion after he grabbed Jenni Hermoso and kissed her on the mouth last August.

Ms Hermoso and her teammates said the kiss was unwanted and demeaning.

Mr Rubiales was forced to resign, but has denied any wrongdoing.

According to a court document seen by Reuters, prosecutor Marta Durantez charged Mr Rubiales with one count of sexual assault and one of coercion for his alleged actions in the aftermath of the kiss. The charges carry prison terms of one year and 18 months respectively.

Ms Durantez also accused the former coach of the women's national team, Jorge Vilda, the team's current sporting director, Albert Luque, and the federation's head of marketing, Ruben Rivera, of coercing Ms Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.

The indictment said they harassed her through "constant and repeated acts of pressure", including through her friends and family.

All three denied wrongdoing when they appeared before the court. Each could face up to 18 months in jail if convicted.

Ms Durantez also wants the four men to pay damages totalling €100,000 (£85,677; $108,000) to Ms Hermoso, and for Mr Rubiales to pay at least half of this amount.

She also requested a restraining order for Mr Rubiales, barring him from coming within 200 metres (656 feet) of Ms Hermoso and from communicating with her for the next seven-and-a-half years.

The scandal overshadowed a historic moment for Spain's women's team, which at the time was celebrating its first ever World Cup win.

During the trophy presentation ceremony, Mr Rubiales clasped Ms Hermoso's head between his hands and planted a kiss on her lips.

Does anyone else find this absolutely INSANE !!!! I mean sure, maybe it was inappropriate, but come on... really.

You've seen footballers do the same, male on male, female on female... but this is now looking for 2.5 years prison time !!!! Mannnnnn i can't even comprehend this world at times.

[irie]

If convicted and sentenced as requested by the prosecutor, Rubiales would not necessarily have to go to prison. Spain’s criminal code allows judges to “exceptionally” suspend jail terms if - as in this case - none of the sentences imposed individually exceeds two years.

[weeksy]

If convicted and sentenced as requested by the prosecutor, Rubiales would not necessarily have to go to prison. Spain’s criminal code allows judges to “exceptionally” suspend jail terms if - as in this case - none of the sentences imposed individually exceeds two years.

And your thoughts ?

[Taipan]

Until recently I never thought i'd say this, but the world has indeed gone mad!

[irie]

If convicted and sentenced as requested by the prosecutor, Rubiales would not necessarily have to go to prison. Spain’s criminal code allows judges to “exceptionally” suspend jail terms if - as in this case - none of the sentences imposed individually exceeds two years.

And your thoughts ?

Know nothing about the Spanish justice system. Might be like many charges in the USA - ridiculous hyperbole which end up with a fraction of the original charge penalties being upheld. For all I know, might be a way of extracting the highest financial payout for the complainant.

[Supermofo]

Yeah does seem a bit nuts.

[mangocrazy]

I'd be interested to know the views of the female RTTL contingent as regards this. What would a reasonable punishment be in your view?

At the very least he should lose his job (which he has) and not be allowed to take any other footie-related posts. Two and a half years behind bars is well OTT though (IMHO).

[Yorick]

Spain is very kissy kissy. Every time I meet a lady friend, it's the old double kiss.
That's why Covid was bad here. They couldn't stop kissing.

So what he did was just normal in Spain.

Amazed it's gone this far.

[mangocrazy]

Spain is very kissy kissy. Every time I meet a lady friend, it's the old double kiss.
That's why Covid was bad here. They couldn't stop kissing.

So what he did was just normal in Spain.

Amazed it's gone this far.

What he did wasn't normal in Spain. He didn't just do the 'air kiss', or the double kiss, he snogged her forcibly on the lips, completely against her will. She was trying to break away and he wasn't letting her. As much as anything else, it was a demonstration of power - 'I can do this and you can't stop me'.

[Yorick]

Spain is very kissy kissy. Every time I meet a lady friend, it's the old double kiss.
That's why Covid was bad here. They couldn't stop kissing.

So what he did was just normal in Spain.

Amazed it's gone this far.

What he did wasn't normal in Spain. He didn't just do the 'air kiss', or the double kiss, he snogged her forcibly on the lips, completely against her will. She was trying to break away and he wasn't letting her. As much as anything else, it was a demonstration of power - 'I can do this and you can't stop me'.

I've lived here quite a bit longer than you have.
It wasn't a snog. Just a very quick kiss.

I saw 4 of the same tonight in town.

But obviously you know best.

[Bigjawa]

Spain is very kissy kissy. Every time I meet a lady friend, it's the old double kiss.
That's why Covid was bad here. They couldn't stop kissing.

So what he did was just normal in Spain.

Amazed it's gone this far.

I couldn't live there, I don't even kiss my wife FFS.

He's a dirty old cunt but 2.5 years is ludicrous.

[MyLittleStudPony]

IMO too much but not totally insane. And I don't think it will happen. There will be a brouhaha and he will get a slap on the wrist.



Gender or nationality shouldn't be an issue when judging such things IMO.

[Mr Moofo]

It is complete and utter nonsense - whilst it is not behaviour of the modern era, it makes a mockery of some manslaughter and rape charges of a few months longer than that.
I realise it is a different legal system - but the world has gone mad.

If we all had a look at our 14 -18 years old selves , we probably have all done thing that would entitle us to a place on the sex offender register. And completely unwittingly !

[Cousin Jack]

He was stupid, and it was unwelcome. He could have apologised and it would have been forgotten by now. He didn't, and he is now reaping the rewards. He is rich, was powerful, and probably the only real punishment will be jail. Two months would do, 2 years is overkill.

[mangocrazy]

Spain is very kissy kissy. Every time I meet a lady friend, it's the old double kiss.
That's why Covid was bad here. They couldn't stop kissing.

So what he did was just normal in Spain.

Amazed it's gone this far.

What he did wasn't normal in Spain. He didn't just do the 'air kiss', or the double kiss, he snogged her forcibly on the lips, completely against her will. She was trying to break away and he wasn't letting her. As much as anything else, it was a demonstration of power - 'I can do this and you can't stop me'.

I've lived here quite a bit longer than you have.
It wasn't a snog. Just a very quick kiss.

I saw 4 of the same tonight in town.

But obviously you know best.

I've had a place in southern France for over 20 years, and the same rules apply. A 'bisous' is basically an air kiss where cheeks meet but never lips. Rubiales grabbed her head in his hands and snogged her. It's on a million YT videos. I don't 'know best' but I know what I saw.

If he'd apologised it would have all been forgotten, but he tried to tough it out and was forced to resign. He tried to make out it was consensual, but Jenni Hermoso said it most definitely wasn't. Who do you believe?

[Yorick]

What he did wasn't normal in Spain. He didn't just do the 'air kiss', or the double kiss, he snogged her forcibly on the lips, completely against her will. She was trying to break away and he wasn't letting her. As much as anything else, it was a demonstration of power - 'I can do this and you can't stop me'.

I've lived here quite a bit longer than you have.
It wasn't a snog. Just a very quick kiss.

I saw 4 of the same tonight in town.

But obviously you know best.

I've had a place in southern France for over 20 years, and the same rules apply. A 'bisous' is basically an air kiss where cheeks meet but never lips. Rubiales grabbed her head in his hands and snogged her. It's on a million YT videos. I don't 'know best' but I know what I saw.

If he'd apologised it would have all been forgotten, but he tried to tough it out and was forced to resign. He tried to make out it was consensual, but Jenni Hermoso said it most definitely wasn't. Who do you believe?

Again you spout bollox. You never debate or give opinions.
You just shove your truth down our throats.

This is not France.

But you carry on.

[mangocrazy]

Everything I say is an opinion, just like yours. I can accept that someone has an opinion different to mine. Can you?

Spain is obviously not France, but traditions and manners of behaviour are very similar in what are neighbouring Mediterranean countries.

Carry on up the Khyber...

[Tricky]

I've lived here quite a bit longer than you have.
It wasn't a snog. Just a very quick kiss.

I saw 4 of the same tonight in town.

But obviously you know best.

I've had a place in southern France for over 20 years, and the same rules apply. A 'bisous' is basically an air kiss where cheeks meet but never lips. Rubiales grabbed her head in his hands and snogged her. It's on a million YT videos. I don't 'know best' but I know what I saw.

If he'd apologised it would have all been forgotten, but he tried to tough it out and was forced to resign. He tried to make out it was consensual, but Jenni Hermoso said it most definitely wasn't. Who do you believe?

Again you spout bollox. You never debate or give opinions.
You just shove your truth down our throats.

This is not France.

But you carry on.

Hmm, as far as I can make out from the above, Mango is stating some publicised facts and open to debate with you- you are the one not open to a discussion..

[Yambo]

What he did wasn't normal in Spain. He didn't just do the 'air kiss', or the double kiss, he snogged her forcibly on the lips, completely against her will. She was trying to break away and he wasn't letting her. As much as anything else, it was a demonstration of power - 'I can do this and you can't stop me'.

You need to show me your video . . .

[weeksy]

See why that may not be politically correct, they've just won a major trophy, he's excited, she's excited, it's a slightly foolish thing to do, but FFS jail time! Cone on!
Using that logic my old granny should've been in prison 50 times over for corrupting a youth every time I left her house