Spain’s High Court investigating judge has broadened the inquiry into a sexual assault case involving an allegedly non-consensual kiss on women’s national team player Jenni Hermoso. The probe now encompasses Jorge Vilda, the former coach of the team, as confirmed by the court on Wednesday.
Judge Francisco de Jorge is examining whether the kiss, initiated by the former chief of the soccer federation RFEF, Luis Rubiales, during the medal ceremony following Spain’s World Cup victory on August 20, and Rubiales’ purported subsequent efforts to pressure Hermoso into characterizing it as consensual, amount to charges of sexual abuse and coercion.
Vilda was dismissed from his role by interim RFEF president Pedro Rocha just ten days after FIFA suspended Rubiales from his position. Vilda had faced significant criticism for applauding Rubiales multiple times during an emergency RFEF assembly, where Rubiales vehemently opposed what he termed “false feminism” and pledged not to resign.
Initially, only Rubiales was officially under investigation, while other federation officials and players were summoned as witnesses. However, Judge De Jorge has now also included Vilda, who had served as the national team’s coach during the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where Spain secured victory with a 1-0 win against England, in the investigation, according to a court statement.
The statement did not provide further details, but Spanish media reports suggest that Vilda allegedly pressured Hermoso to issue a statement exonerating Rubiales. Vilda has denied these allegations.
Furthermore, the judge has changed the status of Albert Luque, the director of the men’s squad, and Ruben Rivera, the federation’s marketing chief, from “witnesses” to “investigated.”
Following the controversial kiss incident, the RFEF released a statement quoting Hermoso as describing the kiss as a “mutual, entirely spontaneous gesture.” However, Hermoso has since stated that she did not consent to the kiss and felt “vulnerable and victimized.”
Two weeks ago, Judge de Jorge issued a restraining order to prevent Rubiales from approaching Hermoso.
Rubiales’ actions not only cast a shadow over the team’s World Cup victory but also triggered a “Me Too” moment that had been simmering for years. The players had been advocating against sexism and striving for parity with their male counterparts for nearly a decade.
