The 2023 Women's World Cup has taken a shocking turn as Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Association (FA), faces a lawsuit for sexual assault and coercion following an incident at the final match. The Spanish prosecutor has taken this legal action after Rubiales forced a kiss on Jenni Hermoso, one of the victorious players, during the medal ceremony following Spain's historic 1-0 victory over England.

The incident has sparked both sporting and political turmoil, with Rubiales at the center of the storm. Videos of him grabbing at players and planting an unsolicited kiss on Hermoso's lips have drawn widespread condemnation.

Hermoso wasted no time in filing an official complaint with the prosecutor's office, potentially paving the way for criminal charges against Rubiales. Already under investigation by Spain's top sports court for “serious misconduct,” Rubiales received a suspension from all football-related activities by FIFA on August 27.

Despite the mounting pressure and allegations against him, Rubiales has defiantly refused to resign from his prominent positions. He has labeled the backlash as a “witch hunt” orchestrated by “false feminists” and maintains that his interaction with Hermoso was “consensual” and a spontaneous expression of jubilation.

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In a show of unity, all 23 members of Spain's victorious Women's World Cup squad have publicly declared that they will not represent the national team until Rubiales steps down from power.

The fallout from this controversy has also affected the coaching staff, with 11 members of Jorge Vilda's team resigning before he himself was sacked, a decision he has refused to accept.

Luis Rubiales now awaits a potential court decision regarding formal charges against him. If charged and convicted of sexual assault under Spanish law, he could face a prison term ranging from one to four years.

The Women's World Cup, once a celebration of athletic prowess and international unity, is now marred by allegations and legal proceedings, with the sports world closely watching the outcome of this troubling case.