Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales testified on Tuesday, maintaining that the kiss he shared with Spain’s Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal ceremony was consensual.
Rubiales, 47, faces charges of sexual assault and coercion, with prosecutors seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
The controversy erupted after the incident, which took place following Spain’s World Cup victory in Australia, leading to Rubiales’ eventual resignation.
Speaking at Spain’s National Court, the former Spanish FA boss stated he was “totally sure” that Hermoso had agreed to the kiss.
“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’, that’s what happened,” he told the court.
He downplayed the significance of the moment, saying, “What happened had no importance neither for me nor for her,” describing it as “an act of affection.”
Hermoso, 34, testified on February 3 that she felt “disrespected” by what she described as a non-consensual act.
In addition to the sexual assault charge, ex-Spain FA president along with former women’s team manager Jorge Vilda and two ex-federation officials, faces allegations of coercing Hermoso to minimize the incident. Rubiales has denied all charges.
