World Champion Jenni Hermoso from Spain was in court on Monday to testify to the lawsuit against Luis Rubiales, the former-Spanish football president who controversially kissed her during the 2023 cup celebration.
During her testimony, Hermoso Rubiales’ claim that the kiss that caused worldwide indignation denied was consensus.
“I didn’t feel respected,” Hermoso said in Madrid’s Supreme Court. “I think it was a moment that colored one of the happiest days of my life.”
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Luis Rubiales kisses Jennifer Hermoso during the medal era for FIFA Women’s World Cup last match at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney. (Noemi Llamas/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Hermoso added that she “didn’t hear or understood anything” from Rubiales when asked if he had asked to kiss her.
“The next thing he did was grab me by my ears and kiss me on my mouth,” she said.
Rubiales, 47, are accused of sexual assault and tries to force hermoso as well as others to support him in public.
Ex-spain football manager Luis Rubiales to meet trials over women’s World Cups kisses
He has denied the charges against him, claiming that kisses were consensus and took place in a “cheering moment.”
He argues that Hermoso “lifted me up” as a festive gesture and he asked her for “a little kiss.” Rubiales claims she said yes.
Prosecutors, Hermoso and the country’s player association ask the judge to issue a two and a half years in prison as well as a payment of 50,000 euros for injuries and a ban on ever working as a sports official again.
Jennifer Hermoso and head coach Jorge Vilda listen to journalists questions during a press conference ahead of Women’s World Cup semi -final match between Spain and Sweden in Auckland, New Zealand. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
Rubiales may be subjected to a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if they were found guilty of his charges per Court’s officials.
Former Spain Women’s National Coach Jorge Vilda, former sports director of Spain’s men’s landscape Albert Luque, and the Football Federation’s former marketing manager, Rubén Rivera, is also in trial of allegedly pressing Hermoso to defend Rubiales in public after the incident.
Rubiales was squeezed out of his position as Spain’s football president in 2023 and retired while being banned by FIFA for three years despite an initial press conference in which he repeated he would not go down. Rubiales said in that speech that he was a victim of a “witch hunt” of “false feminists.”
Since the incident, Hermoso says she has had trouble escaping the limelight, especially in Mexico, where she plays for her club team between her duties for her country.
Jennifer Hermoso responds after missing a score’s chance during a woman’s World Cup between Japan and Spain in Wellington, New Zealand, July 31, 2023. (AP Photo/John Cowpland, File)
“I have not been able to really live freely,” she said in her testimony.
In her seven World Cup matches, Hermoso spoke three goals and two assists to help her team’s efforts to win the trophy.
