- Investigation expands involving Jorge Vilda.
- Rubiales accused of coercion.
- Spanish women’s team boycott ends.
A judge has included Jenni Hermosa’s claim that Rubiales forced her to declare the kiss was consensual to the probe.
The “kissgate” probe involving Luis Rubiales will include Jorge Vilda, the former Spain Women’s World Cup manager.
A judge has widened the scope of the sexual assault investigation into Rubiales’ kiss on Spain’s Jenni Hermoso after the team won the World Cup in August.
In addition to the incident itself, the judge is investigating Rubiales’ alleged attempts to coerce Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.
According to a statement released by Spain’s High Court, Jorge Vilda, who was fired as manager ten days after the World Cup victory, has been included in the investigation’s expansion.
Spanish media say Jorge Vilda pressured Hermoso to exonerate Rubiales.
Jorge Vilda has refuted these claims.
Spain entered the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after several senior players revolted against Jorge Vilda’s treatment.
Despite the controversy, Spain won the tournament in August, defeating England 1-0 in the final in Sydney.
During the award ceremony, Rubiales kissed and hugged Hermoso, overshadowing their victory.
Rubiales asserted that the kiss was “mutual and with Hermoso’s consent” and that he was the victim of a witch quest by “false feminists.”
Hermoso initially responded in an Instagram video during celebrations following the incident, stating, “I did not like it, but what could I do?”
The RFEF also issued a statement quoting Hermoso as saying that the kiss was “mutually and completely spontaneous.”
However, in a subsequent statement released by FUTPRO, Hermoso claimed she was “vulnerable” and “the victim of an aggression.”
Rubiales resigned this month after first rejecting.
He received a restraining order after Hermoso accused him of sexual assault and coercion.
Judge Francisco de Jorge is conducting an investigation into the complaint.
At first, only Rubiales was the subject of a formal investigation, while other federation officials and athletes were questioned as witnesses.
Judge de Jorge has now placed Jorge Vilda under investigation and altered the status of Albert Luque, the men’s team director, and Ruben Rivera, the federation’s marketing chief, to “investigated.”
The women’s World Cup-winning squad of Spain resolved to end their boycott of the national team earlier this month after the RFEF announced “immediate and profound changes” to its structure.
The boycott didn’t stop new coach Montse Tome from calling up the players for Spain’s Women’s Nations League games.
Following a seven-hour meeting between the players, officials from the RFEF and Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD), and members of the players’ union FUTPRO, the team agreed to terminate their boycott.
Tuesday night, they defeated Switzerland 5-0 in the UEFA Women’s Nation League.
