Spanish judge confirms Rubiales will stand trial for kiss on player after Women’s World Cup final

By The Associated Press

The former president of Spain's soccer federation Luis Rubiales arrives at the National Court in Madrid, Spain, Monday, April. 29, 2024. Rubiales will testify on Monday as a defendant for alleged corruption during his time at the head of the organization. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Bernat Armangue]

MADRID (AP) — A Spanish judge has confirmed that former national soccer federation president Luis Rubiales will stand trial on charges of sexual assault and coercion for kissing forward Jenni Hermoso without her consent after last year’s Women’s World Cup final. Spanish news agency EFE says judge Francisco de Jorge confirmed the charges on Wednesday. He had ruled in January that Rubiales’ kiss was “unconsented and carried out unilaterally and in a surprising fashion.” Prosecutors seek a prison sentence of two and a half years for Rubiales for the alleged assault and for allegedly trying to coerce Hermoso to publicly support him amid the public backlash against him.