Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso tells court she did not consent to World Cup kiss

Spain’s former football federation boss Luis Rubiales has been accused of sexual assault and coercion charges 

BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS 

Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso has told the court that she did not consent to kiss Spain’s former football federation boss Luis Rubiales following their World Cup win in 2023. The trial, which began on Monday (3 January), saw the star footballer reveal that the alleged non-consensual kiss “tainted” what should have been one the happiest days of her life. 

Luis Rubiales has been accused of sexual assault and coercion charges, with allegations that he attempted to pressure Hermoso into claiming that the kiss was consensual.

Speaking to the court, Hermoso said that she “never” consented to the kiss. She added: “I didn’t hear or understand any of it at the time. The next thing was that he put his hands over my ears and kissed me on the mouth.”

She also spoke about the impact that the kiss has had on her life. “Until today, it seems that my life has been on standby. Honestly, I have not lived freely,” she told the court. 

Hermoso, the prosecutors and Spain’s Players’ Association want a prison sentence of two and half years for Rubiales plus a payment of £42,000 for damages. They also want him banned from working as a sports official or being near Hermoso. 

In court, Hermoso also spoke about the response from the federation after the World Cup, stating that she had been given a statement written on her behalf claiming that she was “good friends” with Rubiales and “it had all happened in the excitement of the moment and that was all there was to it.” Hermoso said that this statement made her feel like she was “participating in something I hadn’t done and in which I didn’t want to participate”.

She also told the court that no one had come over after to check on how she was doing. “I felt totally unprotected by the federation because this should have been my safe place. I was a footballer from their country and their national team and no one asked what had happened or if I needed anything,” she continued. 

Women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, the former Spanish football federation sporting director Albert Luque and the federation’s former marketing chief Rubén Rivera are also on trial for their suspected roles. All three deny the charges. 

Rubiales also denies the charges. 

The trial is suspected to run until 19 February. 

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