Jenni Hermoso told the court on the first day of Luis Rubiales’ trial in Madrid that she received death threats after he kissed her following the end of the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), is appearing at the Audencia Nacional court in Madrid charged with alleged sexual assault and coercion, both of which he denies.
Minutes after Spain won the World Cup against England on August 20, 2023, as the team were being given their winners’ medals, Hermoso was kissed by Rubiales. When asked by the prosecutor Marta Durantez, the Spain forward repeated in court that she did not consent to the kiss.
“He didn’t ask me if he could kiss me or not,” Hermoso said. “If he had asked me the question, I would not have agreed.
“I felt disrespected, it was a moment that tainted one of the happiest days of my life.”
In the days and weeks afterwards, the prosecution allege that the 47-year-old Rubiales and three other employees of the Spanish football federation — Albert Luque, Ruben Rivera and Carlos Vilda — coerced her into publicly supporting Rubiales’ version of events, and to say that the kiss was consensual. Luque, Rivera and Vilda are also charged with coercion and deny any wrongdoing.
Hermoso was the…
