Rubiales faces one count of sexual assault and one of coercion for his alleged actions following the kiss, which happened after Spain’s 1-0 World Cup victory over England last year.

Former Spanish soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales will stand trial for sexual assault over his unsolicited kissing of Women’s World Cup player Jennifer Hermoso, after a High Court judge in Madrid accepted the case, the court said on Wednesday.

Rubiales faces one count of sexual assault and one of coercion for his alleged actions following the kiss, which happened after Spain’s 1-0 World Cup victory over England last year.

The scandal made global headlines and overshadowed a historic moment for Spain’s women’s team, which at the time was celebrating its first-ever World Cup win on 20 August 2023.

During the trophy presentation ceremony, Rubiales clasped Hermoso’s head between his hands and planted a kiss on her lips.

It was broadcast to billions worldwide, producing a fierce backlash and national debate over sexism in Spain.

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a prison term of one year and 18 months respectively for the charges against Rubialaes, or a total of two years and six months.

Spain’s Public Ministry has formally accused the 46-year-old former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso “without consent or acceptance.”

Rubiales was forced to resign but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He has said the kiss was consensual and that he was the victim of a “social assassination”.

Rubiales, who has previously apologised for the kiss, told TV channel La Sexta in April that there was nothing sexual about his actions and claimed he had asked Hermoso for consent, to which he said she replied “vale” – Spanish for “OK.”

Hermoso has previously said she did not consent and was not respected by Rubiales. She said the kiss had been “unwanted” and demeaning.

“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.”

Rubiales will be tried for coercion alongside the former coach of the women’s national team Jorge Vilda, the team’s current sporting director Albert Luque, and the federation’s head of marketing Ruben Rivera.

All four men, who have denied wrongdoing, are accused of trying to pressure Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.

They could each face up to 18 months in jail if convicted.

The trial will be held at the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid. The date has not yet been confirmed.

The court has set a bail of €65,000 ($69,836, £55,900) for Rubiales’ charge of sexual assault to be paid within 24 hours to cover “any civil liabilities he may be ordered to pay”.

The court also set a separate joint bail of €65,000 for Rubiales, Vilda, Luque, and Rivera for the coercion charge.