The Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Luis Rubiales

The criminal complaint against Rubiales was filed with the state court in Madrid on Friday, Europa Press and Spanish media reported, citing the prosecutor’s office.

Now the investigating judge at the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid must decide whether to accept the criminal complaint and whether to launch investigations that could lead to trial. Experts estimate that the 46-year-old Rubiales could be sentenced to between one and four years in prison if he actually goes to the dock and is convicted at trial.

Rubiales kissed his player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth during the awards ceremony after Spain won the World Cup final in Sydney on August 20. He confirms that this was consensual. But Hermoso said she felt “like I was the victim of a reckless, sexist, inappropriate act that I did not consent to.” The 33-year-old filed a complaint on Tuesday. This in turn enabled the public prosecutor to file a criminal complaint for sexual harassment and coercion.

FIFA had already suspended Rubiales for 90 days and initiated disciplinary proceedings. However, Rubiales continues to refuse to resign as president of the Spanish Federation, even though this has also been demanded by the regional federations of the Spanish Football Federation, among others.