The final phase unfolds as authorities move to formalize criminal proceedings against the suspended president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, in connection with the World Cup celebration incident. The Public Prosecution Service filed the complaint on a Friday, September 8, 2023, with the National Court, accusing Rubiales of a non consensual kiss directed at Jenni Hermoso during the celebrations after Spain secured the World Cup title in Oceania. This action marks the culmination of a preliminary inquiry that began at the end of August and sets the stage for a full judicial process to proceed in a national arena rather than a local one.
The charges brought forward by the Attorney General align Rubiales with two distinct offenses: one labeled assault and another described as coercion, reflecting claims that Hermoso and her associates were subjected to pressure in the wake of the incident. The filing also notes Hermoso herself joined the complaint after filing earlier with the Attorney General, an act which underscores the seriousness with which the matter is treated within the legal system and the broader public record.
With the complaint formalized, the matter is definitively positioned before the National Court, confirming the Public Prosecution Service’s objective of centralizing the proceedings. The court will determine the appropriate Central Court of Instruction to undertake the investigation, a standard step in cases involving Spanish citizens located outside national borders. The court will also decide whether to open criminal proceedings against Rubiales, a decision that will shape the next phase of this high profile case.
The investigative stage carries a maximum horizon of six months, during which the judge retains the option to dismiss the case if the evidence does not meet the necessary threshold. Subsequent to this assessment, deadlines will be established for presenting formal charges and for responses from the prosecution and defense, with a ten day window typically allotted for the defense to prepare. A date for the oral hearing will then be scheduled, marking a turning point in the legal timeline and the public discourse surrounding the matter.
In terms of potential penalties, the offenses cited carry a spectrum from prison terms of one to four years. It is possible for the judge to assign a sentence at the lower end of the range or, if deemed appropriate, substitute a term of imprisonment with a monetary fine. The precise outcome will hinge on the judicial assessment of the circumstances, the arguments presented by the parties, and the credibility of the evidence as evaluated in court.
The progression of the case is being watched closely by supporters, critics, and observers of football governance alike, as it touches on legal accountability at the highest levels of the sport in Spain. The proceedings will unfold under the jurisdiction of the National Court, with procedural steps that reflect Spain’s commitment to due process and the standards applicable to international dimensions of the case. This development also underscores the interplay between national law and the governance framework that oversees the federation and its leadership.
As the investigation advances, all parties will await the court’s rulings on whether to initiate further inquiry and how the charges will be framed moving forward, along with the timetable for the next stages of the process. The broader implications for the RFEF and Spanish football governance will depend on how the legal narrative aligns with public, institutional, and international perceptions of accountability, integrity, and the appropriate handling of conduct within the sport. The case continues to attract substantial attention, with each procedural milestone shaping both legal outcomes and the ongoing discourse around ethics and leadership in football.
Note: This account summarizes the official procedural trajectory as reported by the Public Prosecution Service and corroborated by subsequent filings as part of the National Court process. The narrative reflects the sequence of events and the current status as recorded in the judicial calendar and public filings. (Goal)”