Ex-Spanish Football President Luis Rubiales Detained At Madrid Airport After Jenni Hermoso Kissing Scandal

Former President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales was detained and arrested by police last week in Madrid after arriving there from an international flight, according to Spain’s Civil Guard.

Rubiales was detained after landing at the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport on a commercial flight from the Dominican Republic. He was detained on the runway outside the airport before being driven away in a van.

The Civil Guard’s Central Operative Unit (UCO) is a body of the Spanish Federal Guard that investigates and fights their most serious crime. They were the ones who detained Rubiales.

He was later released after testifying at the Airport’s Terminal 4 Civil Guard unit. He will wait to be summoned to court.

This won’t be Rubiales’ first court appearance though.

Last August, Rubiales was charged by Spanish prosecutors seeking a two-and-a-half year jail term and a minimum $54,000 fine to be paid in compensation to Jenni Hermoso. Hermoso, a midfielder for Spain’s professional women’s soccer team, was seen on multiple cameras with Rubiales receiving a reportedly “unwanted” kiss on the lips from Rubiales following Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory. Rubiales, 46, stated that the kiss was a “consensual” peck on the lips, and Hermoso, 33, did not.

Under Spanish law, a non-consensual kiss can be classified as sexual assault. However, Rubiales avoided going to prison due to the Spanish criminal code that allows judges to “exceptionally” suspend jail terms if – as in this case – none of the sentences imposed individually exceeds two years.

Hermoso filed a lawsuit that was ultimately thrown out by the Spanish court and a restraining order of 200 meters, which also prevents him from communicating with her for more than seven years. This order is still in effect.

Rubiales has recently been in the Dominican Republic, repeatedly denied any wrongdoings to the press, and agreed to cooperate with the investigation.

Following the situation with Hermoso, Rubiales was temporarily replaced with an interim president in September, Pedro Rocha, who moved up from vice president. Rocha, though, is currently under investigation himself after being charged with corruption by a judge in Madrid. His chances of succeeding Rubiales have been placed into heavy doubt.

Article by Nathan Weick

USports writing intern and second year student-athlete at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA pursuing BA in Professional Writing and BA in Spanish/Hispanic Cultures. Juniata College Mens Soccer Captain and former president of the Juniata College Class of 2026.