(Geneva) Prosecuting ousted Spanish Soccer Federation president Luis Rubiales criminally for kissing a player from the World Cup champion team without her consent “seems completely illogical,” UEFA president suggested Aleksander Ceferin.
Spanish prosecutors are investigating accusations of sexual assault made by player Jenni Hermoso, following the incident involving Rubiales that occurred on August 20. She said he also intimidated her by asking her to publicly come to his defense.
A restraining order was issued by a judge last Friday in Madrid preventing Rubiales from approaching Hermoso within 200 meters. Rubiales denied Hermoso’s accusations during a hearing that took place behind closed doors.
Ceferin, a former lawyer who was elected UEFA president in 2016, said in an interview published in Slovenia on Sunday that what “Rubiales did is inappropriate and incomprehensible.”
“But when I hear that it could be criminal mischief – as a lawyer it seems completely illogical,” Ceferin told Slovenian television network N1.
Ceferin clarified that he had recommended that Rubiales resign. Then, on September 10, three weeks after Spain won the Women’s Soccer World Cup, Rubiales announced his resignation as federation president and UEFA vice-president.
The next day, UEFA issued its first statement about Rubiales since the final, highlighting his resignation – “and the public discourse” about his actions – before thanking him for his years of loyalty. services to European soccer.
Ceferin’s N1 interview was his second public outing about the scandal in a month. His first came 10 days after the final, and he told French daily ‘L’Équipe’ that his behavior was inappropriate and that UEFA needed to do more to protect women’s soccer players.
