Sports

Ex-Spain Football Boss In Court Over World Cup Kiss Scandal

Published

3 years ago

September 15, 2023

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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

Related Topics:Court Football Kiss Scandal Rubiales

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Rivers United escape tragedy after team bus crash

In a statement, Rivers United confirmed that although some players and officials sustained minor injuries, there were no fatalities or life-threatening cases.

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5 days ago

June 4, 2026

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Photo: Rivers United bus crash, 4 June 2026

Players and officials of Rivers United escaped serious injury on Thursday after the club’s team bus was involved in a road accident while travelling to Anambra State for a President Federation Cup fixture.

The Nigeria Premier Football League side was on its way to Awka for a Round of 16 clash against Nasarawa United when the incident occurred along the Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road on the outskirts of Port Harcourt.

The Vanguard reported that the accident happened shortly after the team departed from its camp, raising concerns among supporters and members of the football community.

In a statement, Rivers United confirmed that although some players and officials sustained minor injuries, there were no fatalities or life-threatening cases.

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Nigeria Volleyball Federation Unveils New National Coaching Structure

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Published

6 days ago

June 4, 2026

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The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its national coaching setup, appointing new technical staff across its Senior Men’s, Senior Women’s, age-grade, and Beach Volleyball teams.

This strategic move aims to bolster the technical development of the sport and ensure robust preparation for upcoming regional, continental, and international competitions.

New coaching teams have also been named for the Under-19 Boys and Girls, Under-17 Boys and Girls, and both Men’s and Women’s Beach Volleyball teams. Notable appointments include Adamu Nite for the U19 Boys, Vincent Unogwu for the U19 Girls, Sunday Yunana Akapson for the U17 Girls, and Suleiman Ajeigbe for the U17 Boys. John Iwerima and Jonathan Thaj will guide the Men’s Beach Volleyball team, while Kayode and Felicia Amos will oversee the Women’s Beach Volleyball squad.

Godspower A. Odedede, Chairman of the NVBF Media and Publicity Committee, stated that the Federation expects the coaches to leverage their extensive experience and professionalism to drive the national teams towards excellence.

The NVBF reiterated its commitment to cultivating a strong talent pipeline and a culture of achievement to enhance Nigeria’s standing in both indoor and beach volleyball.

Source: LEADERSHIP

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Real Madrid presidential candidate vows to sign Haaland, Rodri from Man City

To back his promises, the 37-year-old businessman signed a notarised personal guarantee committing to pay 100% of the membership fees for all Real Madrid socios (members) next season if he fails to deliver on signing either player.

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•Enrique Riquelme\ Getty images

Real Madrid presidential candidate, Enrique Riquelme has vowed to sign Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Rodri if he defeats incumbent Florentino Pérez in the club’s upcoming election.

Riquelme made the bold pledge during a Wednesday appearance on the popular Spanish television program ‘El Hormiguero’ on Antena 3.

He claimed to have agreements in place for both players and displayed what he described as signed documents related to Haaland’s potential move.

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