Former Spain women’s soccer team coach Jorge Wilda has come under investigation as the country’s highest criminal court continues to consider the case involving the non-consensual kiss of Luis Rubiales.
On Wednesday the court announced that Vilda, who was “mutilated” less than a month after La Roja won the World Cup, was summoned to appear in court on October 10. The statement did not detail why Vilda is being investigated.
The accusations
The case reached the Supreme Court, with Rubiales, a former president of the Spanish confederation, facing charges of sexual assault as well as coercion.
Rubiales grabbed player Jenny Hermoso by the head, pulled her towards him and kissed her on the lips after the final that crowned Spain’s world champions.
In a statement late last month, Hermoso said the incident left her feeling “vulnerable and victimized.” He described the kiss as an “impulsive act, sexist, out of place and time and without any kind of consent” on her part.
Rubiales, 46, claimed that the kiss was consensual. He resigned this month, vowing to defend his “innocence” in a lengthy statement in which he added: “I have faith in the truth and will do everything in my power to prevail.”
“Applause” by Rubiales
As the kiss affair caused uproar at home and abroad, Vilda stood by Rubiales and applauded him as the head of Spanish football railed against “pseudo-feminism” and repeatedly assured he had no intention of resigning.
Vilda was accused by Spanish news website Relevo of trying to get Hermoso to publicly defend Rubiales as public anger grew over his actions after winning the Women’s World Cup.
The court had initially limited its investigation to Rubiales, calling as witnesses officials of the federation. On Wednesday he announced that he was also investigating Albert Luque, head of the men’s team, and Ruben Rivera, the football federation’s marketing manager, instead of calling them as witnesses.
The players Alexia Pouteyas, Irene Paredes and Misa RodrÃguez have also been called as witnesses. The progress of the investigations will determine whether Rubiales will face charges.
The penalty for the sexual assault charge ranges from a fine to one to four years in prison, according to prosecutors.
Changing balances
The Rubiales kiss case highlighted the division in Spain’s football establishment.
Slowly the balance began to shift in favor of the World Cup winners as much of the public in Spain began to rally around them with the country’s football federation forced to promise “immediate and profound changes”.
This month the high court imposed a restraining order on Rubiales, banning him from contacting or coming within 200 meters of Hermoso.
Source: Daily
Source: Sport Fm
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