Spain men’s coach Luis de la Fuente gave testimony on day two of Luis Rubiales’ trial for the alleged sexual assault and coercion of Jenni Hermoso.
Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), kissed Spain player Hermoso as the women’s team were being handed their winners’ medals after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final against England.
On Monday, Hermoso testified she had not consented to the kiss and that Rubiales and other RFEF staff tried to pressure her to publicly state she had no problem with it to protect the then-president’s reputation. Rubiales denies all charges.
Much of Tuesday’s testimony at the Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid centred on the charges of coercion.
The prosecution alleges that Rubiales, 47, and three other RFEF employees — then-women’s coach Jorge Vilda, the former Newcastle United forward and ex-Spain sporting director Albert Luque, and former marketing director Ruben Rivera — coerced Hermoso into publicly supporting Rubiales’ version of events. Rubiales, Luque, Rivera and Vilda deny any wrongdoing.
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The Luis Rubiales trial explained: The kiss, the fallout, the accused and the key witnesses
On day one of the trial, the women’s press officer, Patricia Perez, said De la Fuente was present at a…
