Prosecutors are pushing for the annulment and re-run of the trial against former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales for his forced kiss on footballer Jenni Hermoso. They are challenging the impartiality of the judge, Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto, citing his behavior during the trial and the way he handled certain key evidence.
Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault last month and fined 10,800 euros ($11,670), but prosecutors believe this sentence is too lenient, as they had pushed for a prison term of two and a half years.
In the appeal, prosecutors argue that key evidence was ignored in the ruling and that the judge unfairly limited the scope of questioning by the prosecutor. They also accused the judge of being biased, which led them to request the case be retried with a different, impartial judge.
Rubiales’ legal team is appealing the ruling as well, maintaining that the kiss was consensual and had no sexual connotation. His defense argues that Hermoso’s testimony was inconsistent and that no sexual assault occurred.
The case, which became a symbol of the fight against sexism in sports, stems from an incident after Spain’s victory in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, when Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips during the medal ceremony.
This sparked worldwide outrage, leading to Rubiales’ resignation and a ban from football-related activities for three years. Hermoso, the top scorer for Spain’s women’s team, has become a symbol of resistance against machismo in sports, with the case setting an important legal and social precedent.
