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
Super Falcons goalie Nnadozie, coach Madugu bag Ballon d’Or nomination
Their nominations come on the heels of Nigeria’s historic 10th WAFCON title, secured in Morocco after a dominant run in the tournament.
•Collage of Coach Justine Madugu and Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Nigerian women’s football has earned more global recognition as Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and head coach Justin Madugu have both been nominated for prestigious honours at the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
Nnadozie, a standout performer in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), has been shortlisted for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, while Madugu has earned a nomination for Women’s Coach of the Year.
Their nominations come on the heels of Nigeria’s historic 10th WAFCON title, secured in Morocco after a dominant run in the tournament.
Nnadozie, who captained the side, delivered a string of heroic performances between the sticks, including crucial penalty saves and commanding displays that underpinned the Falcons’ unbeaten campaign.
Coach Madugu, who took over the Super Falcons in late 2023, has been praised for revitalizing the team and instilling a disciplined, attacking style of play.
Coach Madugu, who took over the Super Falcons in late 2023, has been praised for revitalizing the team and instilling a disciplined, attacking style of play.
Under his leadership, the Falcons overcame strong competition from host nation Morocco and defending champions South Africa en route to lifting the trophy.
(Vanguard).
Sports
Afrobasket win: President Tinubu Delights D’Tigress with $100,000 each ,Technical Crew $50,000 each
D’Tigress defeated Senegal in a thrilling final to clinch the 2025 title, extending their dominance in African women’s basketball and reinforcing Nigeria’s status as a basketball powerhouse on the continent.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred national honours on members of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their historic triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship.
D’Tigress defeated Senegal in a thrilling final to clinch the 2025 title, extending their dominance in African women’s basketball and reinforcing Nigeria’s status as a basketball powerhouse on the continent.
In addition to the prestigious honours, President Tinubu announced a cash reward of $100,000 for each player on the championship-winning team. Members of the technical crew will also receive $50,000 each in recognition of their role in the team’s success.
The announcement was made on Monday as the President hosted the team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, celebrating their outstanding performance that secured Nigeria’s fourth consecutive Afrobasket title.
President Tinubu praised the team’s resilience, discipline, and representation of Nigeria on the continental stage, describing them as role models for the nation’s youth and a symbol of national pride.
Sports
I hawked Olive oil, Zobo at church before fame — Super Falcons’ Ajibade
“I was once one of those young girls out there hawking olive oil, kunu, and zobo drinks in most of the deliverance programmes, but today, I give glory to God.”
•Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade
Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, on Saturday, shared her journey from humble beginnings to continental success in a testimony at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries’ Prayer City, Ogun State.
Ajibade, who led Nigeria to its 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco, attended the August edition of the church’s monthly ‘Power Must Change Hands’ programme.
The Punch reports that the Atletico Madrid forward told the congregation that she once hawked olive oil, kunu, and zobo drinks within the church premises before rising to fame as a professional footballer.
She said in part, “Whenever things are tough at my club or with the national team, I pray,
“I do my part through hard work but never forget to seek God’s help.”She added,
“I was once one of those young girls out there hawking olive oil, kunu, and zobo drinks in most of the deliverance programmes, but today, I give glory to God.”
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