Luis Rubiales, former president of the Spanish Football Association, has been sentenced to prison.

Spanish prosecutors demanded Rubiales be sentenced to two and a half years in prison, including one year for sexual harassment and 18 months for coercion.

Rubiales is accused of forcibly kissing without the consent of Spain’s national team member Henifer Ermoso when Spain won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which took place in August last year. He grabbed Ermoso’s face and kissed her on the podium.

At the time, Hermoso returned to the locker room and expressed his displeasure, saying, “I didn’t feel good.”

As the news spread through the media in an instant, criticism arose that Rubiales’ actions were physical contact equivalent to sexual harassment.

As the controversy intensified, Rubiales admitted that he had committed atrocities. He bowed his head, saying, “My actions were wrong. I admit my mistakes. I should have been more careful.” Still, he claimed that he kissed her after obtaining prior consent.

Criticism lingers. Even Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez made an official statement saying, “An apology is not enough. Spanish soccer has been disgraced,” and the Spanish Women’s Soccer League also strongly criticized Rubiales for dirtying the World Cup victory.

Hermoso’s labor union Foot Pro also issued a statement, saying, “We have never agreed to kiss. We will make sure that such acts will be punished,” and added, “Exemplary measures should be taken to protect female soccer players from behaviors that we think are unacceptable.”

Hermoso also reiterated his position on his social media account, saying, “No worker should be a victim of this unconsent behavior.”

In the end, Rubiales lost his position in the Spanish Football Association.

Meanwhile, Spanish prosecutors also demanded 18 months in prison for former national team coach Jorge Vilda, sports director Albert Luque and Spanish Football Association marketing chief Ruben Rivera, who threatened Hermoso from behind saying “it was a consensual kiss.”

The four, including Rubiales, must also pay Hermoso a total of 100,000 euros about 146 million won in damages.

Prosecutors also asked Rubiales to issue a “no-access order” to keep Hermoso away for the next seven and a half years. 토토사이트 순위