National Court judge Francisco de Jorge confirms the authority to investigate the players federation and the individuals at the center of the case. He denied the request from the men’s team director and upheld the central judge’s leadership in the inquiry. The case continues to unfold with the central court taking the lead.
An investigation has expanded to cover pressure against the player Jenni Hermoso during last summer’s World Cup celebrations in Sydney. The aim is to determine whether coercion occurred, an act that could constitute a criminal offense under Spanish law. The matter was raised while the group traveled through Ibiza, a moment some players reportedly used to reflect on the events that followed the final.
Authorities argued against shifting the proceedings to Ibiza, and the magistrate issued an order denying that motion. The decision notes that the alleged coercion, along with other possible offenses, remains within the scope of the ongoing investigation. At this stage, the case attributes these actions to the central figures on the roster.
The presiding judge stressed that the Central Court of Investigation holds exclusive authority over all facts under review and that this authority remains intact throughout the inquiry. The court is nearing a pivotal phase as it weighs whether to press charges against those implicated and awaits the Criminal Chamber to rule on a defense appeal connected to testimony from the federation’s former coach about the succession plan for the team’s current manager.
The inquiry includes the former women’s coach, a former federation official, and the federation’s marketing director. Prosecutors have argued that there were indications of pressure on Jenni Hermoso and her associates to publicly support the federation’s leadership and the former president. The case also involves Rubiales, who faced FIFA sanctions after the non-consensual kiss at the cup ceremony following the World Cup victory on August 20. The investigation continues to assess whether the actions surrounding that incident meet the criteria for coercion and other offenses.