The former president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, on Wednesday launched his own Non-Fungible Token, asserting that the initiative aimed “to support genuine equality.” 

This move unfolds against the backdrop of Rubiales facing charges of sexual assault and coercion in a Madrid court related to his actions following the Women’s World Cup final last August, notably an alleged non-consensual kiss with Spain forward Jenni Hermoso.

The ongoing legal saga involves an investigating judge who has gathered testimony from key figures, including Hermoso, her teammates, Rubiales, and federation executives. 

The judge is now poised to determine whether the case proceeds to trial. 

In a social media post on Tuesday, Rubiales shared a statement from The Moon Labs, a South Korean company, indicating their role in creating a digital campaign environment supporting him, coupled with an NFT project acknowledging his contributions to Spanish and global football.

It said it had “created [a] digital campaign environment for people who support President Luis Rubiales” with “an NFT project to honour Luis Rubiales for his contributions to Spanish and global football.”

“This message is for those who support real equality and not radicalism or media manipulations,” Rubiales posted. 

“I am very grateful for the support of so many people and I especially want to thank The Moon Labs for their courage.”

The NFT, which made its debut on the online marketplace OpenSea, features a childhood image of Rubiales holding a football, symbolizing his formative years and emphasizing his cheerful personality. At the time of this report, 40 NFTs had been minted, although none had been sold.

The controversy surrounding Rubiales intensified after he kissed Hermoso during the Women’s World Cup final medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20, 2023, prompting global criticism. 

Succumbing to mounting pressure, Rubiales resigned as RFEF president in September and subsequently incurred a three-year ban from FIFA for all football-related activities.

Hermoso’s formal complaint triggered an ongoing criminal investigation in Madrid, with Rubiales staunchly denying the charges. 

In a recent interview on a Spanish television program, Hermoso candidly described the kiss and its aftermath as “one of the worst things that’s happened to me in my life.” 

She also leveled accusations against former Spain manager Jorge Vilda, who currently coaches Morocco, alleging controlling behavior during his tenure with the national team.