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World champion coach Jorge Vilda is under investigation

Photo: HANNAH MCKAY / REUTERS

In the kissing scandal surrounding Luis Rubiales, the now resigned head of the Spanish Football Federation RFEF, three more people are now being investigated. They are the former coach of the women's national team, Jorge Vilda, who led his team to the world championship title in Australia in August, as well as RFEF directors Rubén Rivera (marketing) and Albert Luque (men's national team), the Spanish Supreme Court announced on Wednesday in Madrid. The judge in charge, Francisco de Jorge, had summoned the three to a hearing on October 10, it said.

Rubiales had kissed world champion Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth against her will on August 20 at the World Cup award ceremony in Sydney. Subsequently, the 33-year-old player is said to have been pressured by RFEF officials on the return flight to Spain against the backdrop of emerging worldwide outrage to exonerate Rubiales and give her consent. According to Spanish media reports, there are indications for the judge that Vilda, Rivera and Luque belonged to the group that is said to have tried to persuade Hermoso to do so. Vilda was replaced as national coach by Montse Tomé shortly after the World Cup.

Statements by world footballer Putellas, among others

In addition to Rubiales and Hermoso, Judge de Jorge has already questioned several witnesses and experts. Further hearings are scheduled for Thursday and next Monday, some of which are to take place via video conference. Among other things, three players from the world champion team were summoned for Monday. According to the media, these are world footballer Alexia Putellas, captain Irene Paredes and Misa Rodríguez.

After Rubiales' hearing, the judge ordered on September 15 that the 46-year-old could only approach Hermoso to a maximum of 200 meters and not make contact with her. Rubiales asserts that Hermoso agreed to the kiss. However, the player explained that she "felt like the victim of an impulsive, sexist and inappropriate act that I did not agree with".

The investigating judge must decide whether the accused should be put in the dock. According to experts, Rubiales faces a prison sentence of up to four years in this case.

cev/dpa