Luis Rubiales faces up to two-and-a-half years in jail if convicted of sexually assaulting footballer Jenni Hermoso

The trial of Spain's former football chief Luis Rubiales over the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso wrapped up Friday, with a verdict expected in several weeks.Rubiales is accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso in 2023 following Spain's triumph at the women's World Cup in Australia,

Spain's former soccer federation boss Luis Rubiales told a court on Tuesday that player Jenni Hermoso had given her consent for the kiss on the mouth that triggered his trial for sexual assault and sparked a debate in Spain about sexism in women's football.

Luis Rubiales, former president of Spain's football federation, testified in court on Tuesday that player Jenni Hermoso had consented to the kiss

MADRID – The trial of Spain’s former football chief Luis Rubiales over the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso wrapped up on Feb 14, with a verdict expected in several weeks.

Former Spain women's soccer coach Jorge Vilda told a court on Wednesday that he attempted to persuade player Jenni Hermoso to downplay the kiss on the mouth his boss Luis Rubiales gave her at the 2023 World Cup but denied he had tried to strong-arm her.

Rubiales, 47, is accused of sexual assault and then attempting to coerce Hermoso - with the help of three other former soccer federation officials - into publicly saying the kiss on the lips at the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony in Australia had been consensual.

Luis Rubiales' lawyer asked a Spanish court on Wednesday to acquit the ex-football chief over the kiss he gave Jenni Hermoso on the lips in 2023 that sparked global outrage.

Jorge Vilda, the former coach of Spain women’s soccer team, has told a judge that ex-soccer federation president Luis Rubiales did not ask him to put pressure on Jenni Hermoso following the outcry tha