Luis Rubiales given restraining order over World Cup kiss of Jenni Hermoso

A restraining order has been issued on former Spanish football president Luis Rubiales by a judge, which prevents him from going within 200m of football Jenni Hermoso.

Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales (R) arrives at Spain’s National High Court on September 15, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

A restraining order has been issued on former Spanish football president Luis Rubiales by a judge, which prevents him from going within 200m of footballer Jenni Hermoso.

Appearing in court, Rubiales denied sexually assaulting Hermoso by kissing her on the lips after Spain’s Women’s World Cup win. Hermoso said that the kiss was not consensual.

Rubiales kissed Spain forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the awards ceremony after Spain beat England to win the title on August 20 in Sydney, Australia. He said she had consented to the kiss, but Hermoso has denied that repeatedly.

Spanish state prosecutors formally accused Rubiales last week of sexual assault and an act of coercion. According to Hermoso, Rubiales pressured her to speak out in his defense immediately after the scandal erupted.

The state prosecutors’ office said Rubiales denied both accusations when answering questions by the judge in an hour-long hearing that was closed to the public.

Neither Rubiales or his defense lawyer, Olga Tubau, spoke to the media outside the National Court.

State prosecutors asked the judge to consider issuing a restraining order to prohibit Rubiales from coming within 500 meters (yards) or Hermoso or trying to communicate with her, as well as a requirement for him to check in with a court every 15 days to ensure he does not flee the country. The judge will have to decide whether to apply those measures.

Rubiales announced on Sunday that he was resigning from his post as president of the football federation. He he had already been provisionally suspended by soccer governing body FIFA.

De Jorge is carrying out the preliminary investigation into the accusations against Rubiales, and will then decide whether the case should go to trial.

According to a sexual consent law passed in Spain last year, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty of sexual assault. The new law eliminated the difference between “sexual harassment” and “sexual assault,” sanctioning any non-consensual sexual act.

(with inputs from AP)