Luis Rubiales handed restraining order from Spanish court after World Cup kiss
Luis Rubiales has been banned from going within 200m of footballer Jenni Hermoso after a judge held up a request from Spanish prosecutors on Friday.
At Spain's High Court in Madrid Rubiales, 46, was giving testimony on charges of sexual assault and coercion of Hermoso after the controversial kiss during the Women's World Cup trophy presentation.
Hermoso submitted a complaint to the national prosecutor's office last Wednesday regarding Rubiales' conduct, and the former RFEF chief, who spectacularly resigned from his position in an interview with Piers Morgan on Sunday, was summoned to testify.
Judge Francisco de Jorge was asked by prosecutors to bar Rubiales from approaching within 500m (1,600ft) of Jenni Hermoso or from communicating with her, as well as ensuring that Rubiales appear before the judge every fifteen days while the investigation continues. The judge later agreed to the order but restricted it to 200m (650ft).
Appearing in court for the first time, Rubiales denied sexually assaulting or coercing Hermoso, instead staunchly standing by his initial claims that the kiss between himself and Hermoso was mutual and consensual.
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The fall-out from the Women's World Cup has plunged Spanish football into sensational disarray, with the latest instalment seeing 41 players from the Spanish women's national team, including the 23 Women's World Cup winners, refusing call-ups ahead of next week's inaugural Women's Nations League campaign.
The players have issued a series of scathing demands to the RFEF, including for the dismissals of a number of high-ranking officials who were deemed close to Rubiales, particularly those who aided the chief in alleged attempts to coerce Hermoso into an apology video after the Women's World Cup.
Rubiales was suspended by FIFA prior to him reluctantly stepping down from his post.
Long-time manager Jorge Vilda, who was already a contentious figure after his alleged maltreatment incited a 15-player strike after last summer's European Championships, was also relieved of his duties as the Spanish FA attempted to mitigate the damage caused by the spiralling saga.
The federation confirmed Vilda’s former assistant Montse Tome would replace him for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Switzerland and Sweden.
Like Vilda, Tome had seemingly applauded Rubiales’ speech, albeit she was one of the 11 staff members who offered their resignation the following day in a statement which called for the “restructuring and professionalisation” of the national team.
The RFEF has continued to incur fierce criticism and calls for systemic change due to the ill-handling of the situation.
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