cnn
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Spanish prosecutors have opened an investigation that could lead to sexual assault charges against the country’s government. soccer head of the federation Luis Rubiales.
The prosecutors’ case centers on the unwanted kiss Rubiales gave star player Jenni Hermoso when Spain won the Women’s World Cup on August 20, according to a Monday statement from Spanish prosecutors.
“We have agreed to contact Jennifer Hermoso in order to inform her of her rights as a victim of an alleged crime of sexual assault in the next 15 days,” the statement said.
This comes ahead of an “extraordinary and urgent” meeting called by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for Monday afternoon after Rubiales was provisionally suspended by FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, during the weekend.
Meanwhile, Rubiales’ mother locked herself in a church and went on hunger strike to protest the “inhumane and bloodthirsty hunt” for her 46-year-old son, Spanish media reported.
Ángeles Béjar said on Monday that he would remain in the church in the Spanish city of Motril, near Granada, “indefinitely, day and night” until justice is done for Rubiales.
The soccer coach and the RFEF have been embroiled in a controversy since he kissed the 33-year-old striker Hermoso on the lips after Spain won its first Women’s World Cup with a victory over England.
Rubiales said that he was wrong but described the kiss as consensual, while Hermoso said that she did not give him permission to be kissed and felt violated.
“I felt vulnerable and the victim of an impulsive, sexist, out of place act and without any consent on my part,” he said on social media. “Simply put, they didn’t respect me.”
In a defiant speech on Friday, Rubiales refused to resign his position and vowed to “fight to the end,” a stance that drew a wave of strong criticism from teams, players, politicians and union officials.
In response to Rubiales’ decision to stay, RFEF vice president Rafael del Amo and 11 members of the Spanish national women’s soccer program resigned.
Hermoso and his teammates on Spain’s World Cup team said they would not play for the country again until Rubiales was ousted.
The RFEF, however, behind Rubialesaccusing Hermoso of lying about the incident and threatening legal action against her and others.
On Saturday, FIFA said it would suspend Rubiales from “all football-related activities at the national and international level” for 90 days while disciplinary proceedings take place.