Jenni Hermoso has confirmed at a court hearing her kiss with Luis Rubiales after Spain’s Women’s World Cup triumph wasn’t consensual and she was pressured to come to his defence amid the fall-out.
The footballer appeared before a judge at Madrid’s High Court on Tuesday to give her version of the events that followed Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sydney back in August.
Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips as the Spanish team collected their medals and the trophy.
The former Spanish federation chief insisted the kiss was consensual and denies any wrongdoing.
He was banned from all football-related activities by world governing body FIFA and eventually resigned as Spanish FA president.
Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso leaves the High Court in Madrid after giving evidence about the ‘Kiss-gate’ scandal involving former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales
Hermoso confirmed at the hearing the kiss Rubiales gave her after Spain’s Women’s World Cup win in August ‘wasn’t consensual’
Rubiales resigned as Spanish FA president and was suspended by FIFA after he kissed Hermoso on the lips as she celebrated Spain’s World Cup win in August
Rubiales resigned from Spanish FA and has been banned from football related activities by FIFA for three years. He faces a lawsuit alleging sexual assault and coercion
The incident sparked outrage across the football world and ignited one of the worst crises in the history of the sport in Spain.
Hermoso filed a criminal complaint against Rubiales on September 6 and prosecutors filed a lawsuit against him alleging sexual assault and coercion two days later.
The alleged act of coercion related to Rubiales pressuring Hermoso to speak out in his defence after he was criticised for his behaviour.
At her three-hour court appearance on Tuesday, Hermoso confirmed the same version of events she had previously given to prosecutors, stating the kiss ‘was unexpected and at no time consensual,’ according to Marca.
Speaking to the media as she left the court, Hermoso said: ‘Everything went well. I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year. Everything is in the hands of justice.
‘Thank you very much for the support you have given me and for many of you treating things so well. I appreciate it.
‘The process will take its course.’
The judge is also hearing testimony from other World Cup-winning players, coaches and federation officials before making the decision.
Spanish media said Hermoso asked the judge to keep her court appearance as private as possible.
Jenni Hermoso arrives at the High Court in Madrid to give evidence against former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales over the ‘Kiss-gate’ incident at the Women’s World Cup
Hermoso will give evidence at a closed session in Madrid on Tuesday as judges decide whether the case should proceed to a trial
Hermoso and her legal team arrive for the hearing in Madrid on Tuesday morning
The incident surrounding Rubiales and Hermoso marred Spain’s World Cup achievement
She arrived wearing a grey coat and waved to journalists before entering the court through one of its main entrances along with her lawyers.
According to a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty of sexual assault.
Hermoso has described the kiss as ‘an impulsive, sexist act, out of place and without any type of consent on my part.’
A restraining order was served to Rubiales in September and he is currently banned from being within 200 metres of Hermoso, 33.
The 33-year-old Hermoso, the record scorer for Spain’s women’s team, said last year she received threats in the fallout from the kiss, though she did not elaborate.
Hermoso became somewhat of a celebrity in Spain after coming forward to denounce the kiss and help promote a ‘Me Too’ movement in the country. She was one of the New Year’s Eve presenters on public television on Saturday, calling for a 2024 with more equality.
The boycott of the national team ended last year after players were given guarantees of change within the federation following the intervention of government officials.
The player returned to the pitch in mid-September on duty for her club side Pachuca Femenil
FIFA banned Rubiales for three years until after the men’s 2026 World Cup. His ban will expire before the next women’s tournament in 2027.
Speaking to Spanish GQ magazine in November, Hermoso said: ‘For a while I forgot I was a footballer.
‘But you go back to a training session, to the pitch, wearing your kit, and you try to give the best version of yourself again.
‘Being a Taurus makes me see that I have to fight, but also to protect myself. If I want something, I go after it no matter how many times I fail and knock myself against the wall.
‘It has helped me to achieve everything I have set out to achieve in the world of football.’
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