Restraining order imposed on ex-Spain football boss

The Star

Spanish prosecutors on Friday (Sept 15) requested a restraining order to prevent former football chief Luis Rubiales approaching national team player Jenni Hermoso, as he appeared in court to be investigated for sexual assault for kissing her on the lips.  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

00:00 Spanish prosecutors have requested a restraining order against former soccer chief Luis Rubiales

00:06 to prevent him from approaching national team player Jenny Hermoso.

00:11 He appeared in court on Friday to be investigated for sexual assault after kissing her on the

00:15 lips.

00:16 46-year-old Rubiales insists the incident on August 20, after Spain's women's team won

00:23 the World Cup final in Sydney, was consensual.

00:26 But Hermoso told prosecutors that Rubiales kissed her without consent while holding her

00:31 head with both hands at the medal ceremony.

00:34 If granted, the restraining order would prevent Rubiales from trying to contact Hermoso or

00:39 coming within 500 metres of her.

00:41 Rubiales did not speak to the media waiting outside after the closed-door hearing that

00:46 lasted about an hour.

00:47 He denied the accusations during the testimony.

00:51 Rubiales finally quit as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation earlier

00:55 this week, having resisted previous calls for him to step down.

01:03 But he remains unrepentant, saying he acted with consent in a moment of celebration and

01:08 joy.

01:09 Here's Hermoso's lawyer, Carla Vau.

01:14 "Logically, Mrs Hermoso is affected by the event, by the humiliating act that she experienced

01:20 in the stadium, and has tarnished a sporting milestone, a great victory.

01:25 So we would appreciate if the treatment of the matter would be adequate to emotionally

01:29 support this process."

01:30 The prosecutor in this case added there was also a possible crime of coercion.

01:38 Hermoso says she and her relatives were put under pressure by Rubiales and his team to

01:42 say that she "justified and approved" what happened.

01:46 The investigation, which could take several months, precedes any formal charges under

01:50 Spanish law and decides whether the case goes to trial.

01:54 If it does and Rubiales is found guilty, he could face up to four years in jail.

01:59 The incident has triggered a row over sexism in both Spanish sport and society, and prompted

02:05 other women to come forward with reports of sexism and assault.

02:09 Many players, sports bodies and politicians have backed Hermoso online in social media

02:14 campaigns.

02:15 For more information visit www.fema.gov

02:17 [end]

02:24 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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