Luis Rubiales to testify in trial over World Cup's kiss on Jennifer Hermoso

Spain's national court judge Francisco de Jorge has called former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales to testify on trial over the World Cup's final kiss on player Jennifer Hermoso.

The kiss occurred minutes after Spain's Women's national football team won the 2023 World Cup in Sydney, Australia, on August 20.

Spanish team manager Jorge Vilda also pressured Hermoso's family up to three times for the same reason. 

Rubiales claimed the kiss was consensual and refused to resign while railing against "false feminism" trying to "socially assassinate" him. 

Hermoso denied that the kiss was consensual in a personal statement and said she felt the victim of an assault after RFEF released multiple statements brandishing her a liar. 

Rubiales was provisionally suspended by FIFA on August 26. 

He is also on trial for alleged coercion over the player after she made public the non-consensual part of the kiss. He will go to trial on crimes of sexual assault and coercion. 

Francisco de Jorge will also judge on crimes of coercion the former sports director of the men's team, Albert Luque, the former head coach of the women's team, Jorge Vilda, and the former head of marketing of the RFEF, Rubén Rivera.

Rubiales now has a bail of €65,000 for the sexual assault that he needs to pay by Friday. He has also a second bail, for the same amount, for the crimes of coercion, which will be shared among the other ones facing trial.

Hermoso, the Spanish Football Association, and the public prosecutor asked for Rubiales's and the other three members of the RFEF's imprisonment for a year and a half.

The player and the prosecution also ask €50,000 to Rubiales for the alleged sexual assault and €50,000 for the alleged coercion, which, in this case, will also be split between the four testimonies.