New Delhi: Former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales has told a Madrid court that Jenni Hermoso gave her permission for the kiss he planted on her after Spain’s Women’s World Cup triumph in 2023. The 47-year-old is facing charges of sexual assault and coercion over the controversial moment at the awards ceremony in Australia. Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, accusing Rubiales of forcing the kiss and later pressuring Hermoso to publicly defend him.
Rubiales, who resigned as federation president following the scandal, maintained in court that the moment was mutual. “I am totally sure that she gave me her permission,” he said. “It was something spontaneous.” His remarks come after Hermoso testified that she felt “disrespected” by a kiss she never agreed to.
Rubiales denies coercion charges
The FIFA disciplinary committee has banned Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) for a forced kiss on female player. (Photo: Reuters)
Rubiales described the events differently, claiming Hermoso had lifted him in celebration before he asked if he could kiss her. “She squeezed me very tightly under my armpits, she lifted me, and when I came down, I asked her if I can give you a kiss, and she said ‘OK,’” he told the court. He insisted the gesture had “no importance” for either of them at the time, calling it “an act of affection.”
However, the case goes beyond the kiss itself. Prosecutors argue that Rubiales and three other former federation officials pressured Hermoso into making public statements that the kiss had been consensual. Rubiales has denied coercing the player, along with former Spain women’s team manager Jorge Vilda and two ex-federation executives who are also facing charges.
The scandal led to global outrage, sparking widespread discussions about sexism in football. FIFA suspended Rubiales before he eventually stepped down, while Hermoso received strong support from her teammates, many of whom refused to play for Spain until significant changes were made. The case remains a major topic in Spanish football, with the verdict expected to have wider implications for the sport.
Luis Rubiales told a Madrid court that Jenni Hermoso consented to the World Cup kiss, but prosecutors accuse him of coercion. Hermoso insists she never agreed, calling it disrespectful. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
