Ex-Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales to stand trial over unwanted kiss

Disgraced former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales will stand trial in February next year for his unsolicited kiss on the lips of Women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, the court overseeing the process said Monday.

Rubiales provoked worldwide outrage by kissing Hermoso during the medal ceremony after Spain beat England to win the World Cup in Australia last year.

In May, a court had ruled Rubiales should be tried for sexual assault over the kiss, and for the alleged coercion subsequently exerted to make her say that it was consensual, without setting a date.

The trial will be held at the Audiencia Nacional, a Madrid court in charge of complex cases, from February 3 to 19, the court said in a statement.

Public prosecutors have requested a sentence of two-and-a-half years in prison for Luis Rubiales - one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion.

The prosecution is also asking for two years' probation once the sentence has been served and for him to pay €50,000 in compensation to the player.

Rubiales is also under investigation in a separate alleged corruption case involving his reign at the federation and has denied any wrongdoing.

Three of his former associates are also being tried for putting pressure on Hermoso: former women's coach Jorge Vilda, men's team director Albert Luque and federation marketing boss Ruben Rivera.

The kiss took place live in front of the world's cameras, provoking widespread outrage and prompting his suspension by world football governing body FIFA.

At the time, Rubiales brushed it off as "a consensual" peck on the lips, but Hermoso said it was not.

Under Spanish law, a non-consensual kiss can be classed as sexual assault - a criminal category that groups all types of