Jenni Hermoso back in training after filing Luis Rubiales legal complaint
Spain international Jenni Hermoso has returned to training - just three weeks after winning the Women's World Cup.
Hermoso, 33, helped her country defeat England in the final in Sydney to win the competition for the first time. Yet Spain's superb achievement was overshadowed by the actions of Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Rubiales was widely criticised for kissing Hermoso on the lips during the post-match celebrations. The defender-turned-administrator also grabbed his crotch while celebrating from the crowd. Hermoso has since insisted the kiss wasn't consensual and filed a legal complaint against Rubiales, who is refusing to step down from his position. Global football's governing body FIFA has provisionally suspended him for 90 days pending an investigation.
Spain's top sports court is also investigating Rubiales for 'serious misconduct'. The RFEF has apologised for the "enormous damage" caused by the Rubiales scandal and tried to distance itself from the suspended president.
Hermoso is also hoping to put the saga to the back of her mind after returning to training with Mexican side Pachuca. She was given a warm welcome by her club teammates, who held up a banner that read "We are with you Jenni" last month.
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"Full of enthusiasm and joy was the return to training of our World Champion, Jenni Hermoso," wrote Pachuca on Instagram. "On Sunday, everyone to give our love and appreciation to our No.10 at the Hidalgo (Pachuca's home ground)."
Pachuca take on Club Universidad Nacional, who are more commonly known as UNAM or Pumas, on Sunday. It's unlikely Hermoso will play having only just returned from a well-earned holiday. The Women's Super League (WSL) doesn't return until October.
Hermoso hasn't played since winning the Women's World Cup with Spain (Instagram/tuzasoficial)What do you make of the Luis Rubiales scandal? Let us know in the comments below!
Rubiales was expected to resign from his position following the incident but refused and insisted the kiss was consensual. That prompted Hermoso to release a statement on the matter, claiming Rubiales' account was "categorically false".
Hermoso also accused the president of creating a "manipulative culture" and made it clear that the kiss wasn't consensual. She added: "I want to reiterate how I did in that moment that what happened was not enjoyable... I wasn't respected."
If found guilty of sexual assault following Hermoso's legal complaint, Rubiales could face a prison sentence of up to four years. Prosecutors want Rubiales to provide testimony before the court. They gave Hermoso 15 days to file a legal complaint against Rubiales, which she did on Wednesday. Without it, they wouldn't have been able to prosecute Rubiales.
Luis Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips after the World Cup final (EIDAN RUBIO/RFEF HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)The scandal took another turn when Rubiales' mother went on a hunger strike in protest of her son's treatment. She was hospitalised but later discharged.
RFEF's acting president Pedro Rocha has since issued an open letter on the matter. He said: "The damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and the values of football and sport as a whole have been enormous.
"Mr Rubiales' actions do not represent the values defended by the Spanish federation, nor the values of Spanish society as a whole. His actions must be attributed solely and exclusively to him, since he is the one solely responsible for those actions before society, before the sports governing bodies and, if applicable, before justice.
"To be clear, this position was that of Mr Rubiales, not that of the RFEF. We feel especially sorry and ashamed for the pain and additional distress this has caused."
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