Real Madrid star offers support to Rubiales as Hermoso files legal complaint
Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal has offered support to suspended Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales, on the day Jenni Hermoso filed a formal legal complaint against him.
Carvajal had been one of the four Spanish men's captains to issue a statement condemning Rubiales for his kiss on Hermoso after the Women's World Cup final, which she insists happened without her consent.
On Tuesday night, Carvajal said he would wait until for the legal process to decide whether Hermoso was the victim of sexual assault. On Wednesday he moved to clarify his comments, insisting he was merely referring to the right to a fair trial, though the matter has not yet been taken to court.
“It is quite clear what I think from the interview yesterday. I only defend the presumption of innocence, which is a constitutional right for everyone in this country – I’ll stick to that. You cannot blame or victimise anyone without a firm sentence," he said.
"The statement was complicated to get 24 people to agree on it. We did it with good intentions for them, for us, and for any fan. It was a statement that was in agreement with what we represent. [We’re] Very proud of the success they achieved.”
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Carvajal was at pains to make clear he is sitting on the fence on the issue, issuing his support to neither Hermoso or Rubiales. The right-back has said he empathises with Rubiales though, amid his suspension by both the Spanish FA and FIFA.
Real Madrid and Spain star Dani Carvajal has offered his support to Luis Rubiales“For good and for bad, the repercussions are very large. I’m not going to give my opinion on a personal level. Everyone can do what they want. I am nobody to judge anyone. At no point have I said that Jenni is not the victim,
"I have said that the presumption of innocence must be preserved. I understand if she is having a bad time, you have to show solidarity with her. also understand the president is not having a good time, but I’m not here to judge anyone.
“The opinion I have of Rubiales is that he has always had excellent professional relationship with me. Everything he has been able to help us with, regarding families or trips, has been exceptional. I am not the one to clean out, do or undo in the RFEF, I speak as a player and I cannot have a go at him.”
Carvajal's comments come as Hermoso paved the way for the prosecution of Rubiales by filing a formal complaint against him. Prosecutors gave the World Cup 15 days to accuse Rubiales of sexually assaulting her by kissing her on the lips without her consent.
The action, which Rubiales says was consensual and has described as a “peck”, sparked the scandal. On Wednesday, it emerged Hermoso had filed her complaint in person at the Spanish State Prosecution Service HQ in Madrid.
Without it state prosecutors, now expected to ask a Spanish court to place the 46-year-old under criminal investigation in the next few days, would have been unable to prosecute Rubiales.
A judge at Spain’s Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid would be tasked with conducting the probe and decide whether Rubiales should face charges before inviting prosecutors to indict the suspended Spanish FA president, as the kiss happened in Australia and other courts in Spain do not have the authority to act.
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