)
Disgraced former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales feels the ‘kissgate’ scandal was blown out of proportion as he faces two-and-a-half years in prison for kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso.
Former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has vehemently defended himself against allegations of sexual assault following the 'Kissgate' scandal involving footballer Jenni Hermoso.
Rubiales, who was arrested on Wednesday morning as part of a separate corruption probe unrelated to the incident, expressed his disbelief at the accusations leveled against him.
"I can't understand why anyone would think that," Rubiales stated in an interview with Spanish broadcaster La Sexta, addressing the charges of coercion and sexual assault stemming from the controversial kiss he gave Hermoso after Spain's Women's World Cup final victory against England last August.
He further criticised the judge's characterisation of his actions as manipulative.
Despite his arrest being linked to alleged financial irregularities during his tenure as head of the Spanish FA, Rubiales still faces potential repercussions for the incident with Hermoso. Spanish prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for the former FA chief.
The interview with Rubiales, set to be released later on Wednesday, will provide further insight into his perspective on both the ongoing corruption probe and the 'Kissgate' controversy.
Rubiales, who recently traveled to the Dominican Republic for work-related reasons, has faced intense scrutiny in recent weeks, with his home in Granada among several properties searched by authorities.
Rubiales was apprehended by police upon his arrival at Madrid's Barajas Airport from the Caribbean, but was later released ahead of an expected court summons for questioning.
Despite the legal turmoil, Rubiales remains resolute in his denial of any wrongdoing regarding the 'unwanted' kiss incident, insisting that his actions were misunderstood and unjustly characterised as sexual assault.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)