Former head of Spanish women’s football team Luis Rubiales, in a television interview aired on Wednesday, denied that he sexually assaulted a star player during the prize distribution ceremony during Spain’s World Cup-winning campaign. He suggested that he was being questioned only because he’s a man.
Former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales also claimed that forward Jennifer Hermoso had consented to the kiss that happened during the medal ceremony. The kiss had overpowered Spain’s famous victory.
As per a report in the CNN, Spanish prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half year prison sentence for Rubiales after they formally accused him of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso “without [her] consent or acceptance.” He denies the charge.
“For me, there is no crime,” Rubiales told TV channel La Sexta. “That is my opinion, my humble opinion, which I also lived through.”
Rubiales, who had previously expressed regret for the kiss, informed La Sexta that his actions were not of a sexual nature. He asserted that he had sought consent from Hermoso, alleging that she responded with “vale,” which translates to “OK” in Spanish.
“Vale so, we gave each other a peck …that is my version,” he said.
“Whoever sees the images, for real, I cannot reach an understanding on how someone can think that is sexual assault.”
Rubiales also claimed he is being questioned over the incident because he is a man.
“Anyone can be questioned, even you, any person … what you (media) are wanting to do is curtail the freedom of thought … many news outlets want to curtail the freedom of thought,” he claimed.
Hermoso has previously said she did not consent and was not respected by Rubiales.
“I’ve had to bear the consequences of an act that I didn’t provoke, which I didn’t choose or premeditate,” she told GQ Spain in an interview last November. “I’ve received threats and that’s something which you will never get used to.”
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