Spanish World Cup-winning footballer Jenni Hermoso has given evidence to a judge investigating a kiss by the then president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, after the Women’s World Cup final last August.
The 33-year-old Spanish player filed a criminal complaint against Rubiales. She was expected to testify that the kiss was not consensual, as she’s said previously.
In a statement following the public kiss, Hermoso said she felt “vulnerable and a victim of aggression”, noting Rubiales’ action was “an impulsive, sexist, out of place act and without any kind of consent on my part.”
Hermoso also claims that Rubiales and his staff tried to pressure her and her family to downplay the incident that tarnished Spain’s first Women’s World Cup title.
She testified behind closed doors to judge Francisco de Jorge who is investigating Rubiales on allegations of sexual assault and coercion. The court did not release any details about her statements.
Spanish media has said Hermoso asked the judge to keep her court appearance as private as possible. Last year, she said she received threats in the fallout from the kiss but did not elaborate.
Following her testimony, Hermoso told reporters outside the courthouse that “everything went well”.
“The judicial process will continue its course, and thanks for the support that many of you have given to me. I wish things go well,” she said.
Before deciding whether to start a trial, the judge is also hearing testimony from other World Cup-winning players, coaches and federation officials.
During the incident on the world football stage, footage shows Rubiales take Hermoso’s head in his hands and kiss her on the lips.
His actions caused a national and international debate on sexism. It also led to the World Cup-winning players boycotting the national team.
Based on a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if he’s found guilty in court. This is according to the prosecutor’s office in Madrid.
Despite his denial of wrongdoing and his claim that the kiss was consensual, a judge imposed a restraining order on Rubiales not to contact Hermoso.
FIFA also banned Rubiales for three years until after the men’s 2026 World Cup. His ban expires before the next women’s tournament in 2027.
Rubiales eventually resigned as the federation president and as a UEFA vice-president on September 10 amid rising pressure from Spanish politicians and players.
Before this, he’d been adamantly against doing so, having screamed at a Federation meeting: “I will not resign, I will not resign, I will not resign!”
One day following his resignation, UEFA thanked Rubiales for his service.