キスは同意の上で「間違いない」 スペイン連盟前会長が裁判で主張

【サンフェルナンドデエナーレス（スペイン）ＡＦＰ＝時事】スペインサッカー連盟（ＲＦＥＦ）のルイス・ルビアレス前会長（４７）が、同国女子代表のＭＦヘニフェル・エルモソ（３４）への性的暴行などの罪に問われている裁判が１１日に行われ、ルビアレス氏は、エルモソが唇へのキスに同意したことは「絶対に間違いない」と発言した。（写真は、自身が性的暴行と脅迫の罪に問われている裁判で、スペインの全国管区裁判所に出廷するスペインサッカー連盟前会長のルイス・ルビアレス氏）
　ルビアレス氏は、２０２３年の女子Ｗ杯オーストラリア大会でスペインが優勝した後、メダル授与式でエルモソにキスをしたことで不名誉な辞任を余儀なくされた。
　検察はルビアレス氏に対し、キスを強要した性的暴行の罪で１年、事件を大ごとにしないようエルモソに圧力をかけた脅迫の罪で１８か月、合計禁錮２年半を求刑している。裁判は２月３日の開廷から国中の注目を集め、エルモソはスポーツ界の男性優位の文化や性差別との闘いの象徴となっている。
　スペインの全国管区裁判所で行われた公判でルビアレス氏は、エルモソがキスに同意したことは「絶対に間違いない」と発言。「彼女は私の体に手を回して固く抱きしめ、持ち上げた。下ろされた私が『キスしてもいいか』と尋ねると、彼女は『ＯＫ』と言った。それが事実だ」と話した。
　この日は読唇術の専門家も証言し、映像を見る限りルビアレス氏は確かにエルモソに対して「キスしてもいいか」と尋ねていると述べたが、映像にはエルモソの顔は映っていない。
　ルビアレス氏は、自身が「間違いを犯し」「不適切」な行動を取ったこと、「公的な人間としての役割を果たすべきだった」ことを認めながらも、犯罪は犯していないと主張した。
　対するエルモソは裁判初日に、同意のないキスで「侮辱された」と感じ、「いかなる社会的または職場環境でも起こってはならない」と述べている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/02/12-18:05）

Former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales told his trial on Tuesday he was totally sure Jenni Hermoso consented to his kiss on her lips in 2023 that sparked global outrage.
The case has riveted the country since opening on February 3 and has turned Hermoso into an icon of the fight against macho culture and sexism in sport.
Rubiales was forced to resign in disgrace in 2023 after kissing Hermoso following Spain's triumph at that year's Women's World Cup in Australia.
Prosecutors are seeking two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, one year for sexual assault for the forced kiss and 18 months for allegedly coercing Hermoso, 34, to downplay the incident.
Rubiales, 47, told Spain's National Court he was totally sure Hermoso consented to the kiss during the medal ceremony after the final.
She squeezed me very tightly under my armpits, she lifted me, and when I came down I asked her if I can give you a kiss, and she said 'OK', that's what happened, he said.
What happened had no importance neither for me nor for her, Rubiales added during his highly anticipated testimony, describing the kiss as an act of affection.
An expert in lip reading had told the court on Tuesday that Rubiales asked Hermoso can I give you a kiss? based on video footage where the star player's face could not be seen.
Rubiales conceded he made a mistake on the podium and that his behaviour was not appropriate, saying he should have been in a more institutional role, but denied any offence had been committed.
- Hermoso 'overwhelmed' -
Hermoso told the opening day of the trial she felt disrespected after a non-consensual kiss that should not happen in any social or work setting.
Her teammates have described how she cried and felt overwhelmed following the incident, while her brother Rafael Hermoso has said she came under pressure to downplay the incident to save Rubiales.
Rubiales denied the charge of coercion, saying he did not participate in the drafting of a statement in Hermoso's name that sought to calm the growing furore.
He said Hermoso rejected a suggestion to appear in a video alongside him and instead wanted to celebrate the World Cup.
Rubiales responded with a blunt no when the prosecutor asked him if he had manipulated people close to Hermoso to put pressure on the all-time top scorer for the national women's team.
Prosecutors are also seeking 18 months' jail against former women's team manager Jorge Vilda and two ex-federation officials, Ruben Rivera and Albert Luque, for alleged coercion.
- Fall from grace -
Rubiales minimised the importance of the kiss on Hermoso at the time and defied calls for his resignation at an emergency federation meeting in August 2023, railing against false feminism.
He resigned in September that year after FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged sexual assault.
Rubiales embraced controversy during his tumultuous five-year reign at the helm of the football federation.
He expanded the Spanish Super Cup to a four-team format and signed a lucrative deal to move the competition to Saudi Arabia, angering traditionalists and human rights activists.
Prosecutors are also investigating alleged financial irregularities totalling millions of euros related to the Super Cup relocation that involved a company owned by former Barcelona great Gerard Pique.
Rubiales has dismissed the allegations as falsehoods.