Key Takeaways:

• Spanish prosecutors have requested a retrial of Luis Rubiales, previously convicted of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso.
• The request follows concerns about the judge’s impartiality and evidence handling during the original trial.
• Rubiales was fined over €10,000 but escaped jail time, a decision criticized by feminist groups.
• Hermoso's case has ignited discussions on sexism in sports and remains a focal point in Spain's cultural debate.

A Spanish prosecutor has formally requested a retrial of Luis Rubiales, the former head of the country’s soccer federation, who was convicted last month of sexual assault for kissing national player Jenni Hermoso without her consent. Prosecutor Marta Durantez has argued that vital evidence was not considered, which raises questions over the ruling made by Judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto during the initial trial.

In the original ruling, Rubiales was fined approximately €10,800 but did not receive a prison sentence, a decision regarded as lenient by advocates for women's rights. The prosecution had sought a minimum sentence of two and a half years for Rubiales, comprising one year for the sexual assault charge and 18 months for coercion charges against Hermoso, which the court ultimately dismissed. Durantez pointed out that Rubiales should have faced at least a year in prison given the nature of the assault.

In response to the prosecutor’s appeal, there are demands for a new trial with a different judge amid concerns that the original judge's conduct led to an "appearance of bias." The ruling has set off significant public discourse regarding sexism in women’s sports and prompted a wider societal movement similar to the "Me Too" campaign, reflecting ongoing struggles towards gender equality in Spain.

The kiss at the 2023 Women's World Cup celebration stirred national outrage, overshadowing Spain's victory in the tournament, and elevated Hermoso to a role as a symbol against sexual misconduct in sports. Both Rubiales and Hermoso plan to appeal the ruling against them in what has become one of the most talked-about legal cases in Spanish sports history. You can read more about this situation in detail at Al Jazeera and Africa News.