Jenni Hermoso was on the Madrid court to share her take on Luis Rubiales’ kiss after Spain defeated England in the final in Sydney in August.
Jenni Hermoso, a Spanish athlete who was kissed on the lips by then-football president Luis Rubiales at the FIFA Women’s World Cup final, appeared in court on Tuesday to testify in the former official’s sexual assault case.
Hermoso was at the Madrid court to offer her side of the story after Spain defeated England in the final in Sydney in August.
The act generated uproar around the football world and sparked one of the biggest crises in Spanish football history. The World Cup-winning players also boycotted the national squad, and Rubiales eventually resigned despite his denial of wrongdoing and claim that the kiss was consensual.
Before deciding whether to hold a trial, the judge is also hearing testimony from other World Cup-winning players, coaches, and federation executives.
Rubiales had denied any misconduct to the judge who issued a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting Hermoso.
Hermoso rose to prominence in Spain after publicly condemning the kiss and promoting a “Me Too” movement in the country. On Saturday, she was one of the New Year’s Eve presenters on national television, pushing for a more equal 2024.
Following the intervention of government officials, the boycott of the national team was lifted last year after players were given assurances of change inside the federation.
According to the prosecutors’ office in Madrid, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if proven guilty under a sexual consent law passed last year. The new law abolished the distinction between “sexual harassment” and “sexual assault,” making any unconsented sexual behavior legal.
Rubiales has been suspended by FIFA for three years, until the end of the men’s World Cup in 2026. His suspension will end before the following women’s tournament in 2027.
On September 10, he resigned as president of the federation and as a UEFA vice president, citing rising pressure from lawmakers and players in Spain. UEFA honored Rubiales for his work a day later.
