MADRID (Reuters) – Following is a timeline of events that led to former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales standing trial.
Aug. 20, 2023
Spain beats England 1-0 in Women’s World Cup final.
Standing beside Spain’s Queen Letizia and one of her teenage daughters, federation president Rubiales enthusiastically celebrates the victory, including grabbing his crotch while pointing to the field.
Then he kisses player Jenni Hermoso on the lips on the stage where she received a medal.
Aug. 21
Rubiales apologises after his actions sparked outrage, with Spain’s second deputy prime minister calling for his resignation.
Aug. 22
Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says Rubiales’ apology was not enough.
Aug. 23
Hermoso calls for “exemplary measures” to be taken against Rubiales.
Aug. 25
Rubiales refuses to step down as president. “I will not resign, I will not resign,” he says.
Spain’s government starts legal proceedings seeking to suspend Rubiales.
Hermoso says in a post in social media: “I felt vulnerable and a victim of aggression. I was simply not respected.”
The Spain team, including the entire group of 23 players who participated in the Women’s World Cup, declare their refusal to play for Spain’s women’s team until Rubiales is ousted.
Aug. 26
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee says it has provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days pending an investigation.
Jorge Vilda, the coach of the Spanish Women’s soccer team, says that he regrets the “inappropriate behaviour” of Rubiales.
Aug. 28
Spain’s High Court prosecutor opens a preliminary investigation into whether Rubiales might have committed an act of sexual assault when he grabbed Hermoso’s head and kissed her on the lips.
Rubiales’ mother locks herself inside a church and starts a hunger strike to protest against what she called her son’s “inhumane treatment”. She ends her strike on Aug. 30 after being hospitalized.
Aug. 29
Spanish regional soccer chiefs demand that Rubiales resign, as the government promised to ensure women play a bigger role in running sports.
Sept. 4
Spanish men’s team criticises Rubiales for his “unacceptable behaviour” after he kissed Hermoso.
Sept. 5
Vilda is sacked as coach of Spanish women’s team.
In a separate statement by interim president Pedro Rocha, the RFEF apologises for Rubiales’ “inappropriate conduct”.
Sept. 6
Hermoso lodges a criminal complaint over the kiss by Rubiales.
Sept. 8
A Spanish prosecutor files a complaint with the High Court against Rubiales for sexual assault and coercion.
Sept. 10
Rubiales quits from his position as president.
Sept. 15
In a preliminary court hearing, Rubiales denies wrongdoing, while the prosecutor leading the case requests a restraining order against him so he cannot get within 500 metres of Hermoso.
Sept. 27
The investigating judge at Spain’s High Court includes Jorge Vilda, who was the coach of the women’s squad at the time, in the probe over the allegedly non-consensual kiss.
Oct. 27
Hermoso scores the winner against Italy on her return to the national squad.
Oct. 30
FIFA bans Rubiales from all football-related activities for three years.
Jan. 2, 2024
Hermoso testifies in court as part of the investigation against Rubiales.
Jan. 27
Prosecutor Marta Durantez charges Rubiales with one count of sexual assault and one of coercion for his alleged actions in the aftermath of the kiss, offences carrying jail terms of one year and one-and-a-half years respectively.
May 8
A High Court judge admits the case and sends Rubiales to trial. Former women team’s coach Vilda, the team’s sporting director at the time, Albert Luque, and the federation’s former head of marketing, Ruben Rivera, also stand accused of trying to coerce Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.
Feb. 3, 2025
Trial due to begin at Madrid’s High Court.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro; editing by Charlie Devereux)
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