Spanish prosecutors have called for a re-run of the trial against former football federation chief Luis Rubiales, arguing that the judge showed bias in the case over his forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso.
Rubiales was convicted last month of sexual assault and fined €10,800 ($11,670), avoiding jail time—a verdict that many, especially feminist groups, considered too lenient. Prosecutors originally sought a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, including charges of coercion, but the court cleared him of those allegations.
On Thursday, prosecutors filed an appeal demanding the trial be annulled and retried under a different judge, citing the “appearance of bias” and claiming that key evidence was ignored in the ruling.
Judge José Manuel Fernández-Prieto, who oversaw the case, was criticized for repeatedly interrupting and scolding participants. His handling of the trial has raised concerns about fairness, leading prosecutors to argue that justice was not properly served.
Meanwhile, Rubiales, who has always insisted that the kiss was consensual and had no sexual intent, is also appealing the conviction.
The scandal erupted when Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips during Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory ceremony in 2023, sparking international outrage and forcing him to resign. The case has since become a landmark moment in the fight against sexism in sports, with Hermoso stating after the ruling: “There is still much work to be done.”
Now, the question remains—will the courts agree to a retrial?
