Sports
Ex-Spain Football Boss In Court Over World Cup Kiss Scandal
Five days after resigning as Spain’s football chief, Luis Rubiales is due in court Friday on sexual assault charges over forcibly kissing women’s World Cup player Jenni Hermoso.
The 46-year-old has been summoned to Madrid’s Audiencia Nacional court at midday (1000 GMT) where he will appear before Judge Francisco de Jorge who is heading up the investigation.
At the hearing, which will be closed to the public, Rubiales will be questioned as a defendant in regards to allegations of “sexual assault”, a court statement said earlier this week.
Hermoso will also be called to testify at a later date.
The case comes barely four weeks after Rubiales sparked outrage when he forcibly kissed the midfielder in front of the world’s media after Spain defeated England in the final on August 20.
Rubiales, who was head of Spain’s RFEF football federation at the time, has repeatedly insisted the kiss was consensual.
Hermoso has said it was not and that it left her feeling like the “victim of an assault”.
De Jorge on Monday admitted a complaint against Rubiales filed the previous week by the public prosecutors’ office, citing alleged “offences of sexual assault” and “coercion”.
Under a recent reform of the Spanish penal code, a non-consensual kiss can be considered sexual assault, a category which groups all types of sexual violence.
If found guilty, Rubiales could face anything from a fine to four years in prison, sources at the public prosecutors’ office have said.
In their complaint, prosecutors said they had included the offence of coercion because of Hermoso’s statement in which she said “she and those close to her had suffered constant ongoing pressure by Luis Rubiales and his professional entourage to justify and condone” his actions.
The global furore over the incident all but eclipsed the victory celebrations for Spain’s World Cup champions.
‘100% Non Sexual’
After three weeks of refusing to resign over the kiss, Rubiales, who was suspended by FIFA on August 26, stood down late on Sunday but continued to insist the kiss was consensual in a TV interview with Britain’s Piers Morgan.
“What we had is a spontaneous act, a mutual act, an act that both consented to, which was driven by the emotion of the moment,” he said, describing the kiss as “100 percent non-sexual”.
The hearing comes with new coach Montse Tome, the first woman to lead the team, set to announce her squad on Friday for UEFA Women’s Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland on 22 and 26 September.
Her first job will be to try and convince the 23 world champions to don the red jersey again after they and dozens of others said they would not play for the national team without significant changes at the head of the federation.
The players have not yet said what they will do following Rubiales’ resignation although the situation has changed since the RFEF sacked their controversial coach Jorge Vilda, named Tome in his stead and pledged further internal reforms.
“We have had discussions.. I don’t think there will be any problem,” Rafael del Amo, head of the RFEF’s women’s football committee told Cope radio on Tuesday.
“I think things will move forward.”
AFP
Sports
CAF announces free e-visas for fans attending AFCON Morocco 2025
“Electronic visas to enter Morocco — obtained through the YALLA app — are now free of charge for supporters attending the competition, which runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026,” said CAF.
The Confederation of African Football and the AFCON Morocco 2025 Local Organising Committee on Friday announced that fans travelling to the tournament will be eligible for free electronic visas.
In a statement on its website, CAF said that the policy benefits citizens of countries that normally require a visa to enter Morocco.
“Electronic visas to enter Morocco — obtained through the YALLA app — are now free of charge for supporters attending the competition, which runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026,” said CAF.
The governing body said the announcement comes amid growing global demand for Africa’s biggest football event, with more fans booking tickets.
It explained that fans need two documents, a fan identification and an e-visa, to stay in Morocco and enter football stadiums throughout the tournament.“A Fan ID is mandatory for entry to all stadiums and official Fan Areas.
Supporters can apply for both the Fan ID and e-visa in one place inside the YALLA app, streamlining travel and stadium access.
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s readiness ahead of their crucial semi-final clash against Gabon in the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs. The match takes place on Thursday in Rabat, Morocco, against Éric Chelle’s Panthers.
The Super Eagles overcame a slow start in the qualifiers to secure their place in the playoffs, and Bassey says the squad is now fully focused on achieving victory.
“I think we started very slow, but hope has been restored. We just have to make sure that we keep going and take the game as it comes. We are Nigeria, a massive nation, and we know there is a lot of expectation and responsibility,” Bassey told Sporty TV.
The encounter, which carries high stakes for both teams, is scheduled to kick off at 5:00 p.m. Nigerian time. Analysts expect a tightly contested match, as Gabon, led by Chelle, have also shown resilience in the qualifiers.
With strong backing from Nigerian supporters both at home and in Morocco, the Super Eagles are aiming to continue their impressive run and book a place in the final stage of the World Cup playoffs. Bassey emphasized that the team is focused on maintaining composure and executing their game plan effectively under the high-pressure environment.
“We understand the expectations of our nation, and the unity and support from our fans give us an extra boost. It’s time to show the world the quality of Nigerian football,” Bassey added.
Tonight’s match is poised to be a defining moment for Nigeria’s World Cup campaign, with both teams vying for a place in the final and a step closer to qualification.
Nigeria’s Falconets began their WAFU B Women’s Cup campaign on a winning note, defeating Ghana’s Black Princesses 3–1 in their opening match on Saturday.
Janet Akeremkowei was the standout performer, scoring twice for Nigeria, while Favour Nkwocha added a third goal to seal the victory.
Akeremkowei opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 40th minute, setting the tone for a dominant display by the Falconets against their West African rivals.
The win places Nigeria in a strong position as they aim to progress from the group stage and contend for the regional title.
Both teams are expected to return to action later in the week as the tournament continues.
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