Jenni Hermoso testified against Luis Rubiales, asserting that she did not consent to the kiss he gave her during a celebratory moment after Spain’s World Cup victory. She expressed feelings of disrespect and pressure from the Spanish Football Federation, claiming they coerced her to remain silent. The trial, which includes other officials accused of pressuring Hermoso, highlights issues of sexism in sports, with the incident sparking widespread outrage and advocacy for change.
Jenni Hermoso’s Testimony Against Luis Rubiales
On Monday, Jenni Hermoso firmly reiterated her stance that she never gave consent to the kiss from Luis Rubiales, the former head of Spanish football. Speaking before the court in San Fernando de Henares, near Madrid, she expressed her feelings of disrespect as a woman, stating, “I felt that it was totally out of context. I realized that my boss was kissing me, and that is simply unacceptable in any social or professional environment.” The ongoing trial for Rubiales, who faces charges of sexual assault and coercion for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to remain silent, began on Monday and will continue until February 19.
The 34-year-old player, dressed in a stylish black sweater and jacket, emphasized, “I only kiss on the lips when I decide to do so.” She described the incident as something that marred what should have been one of the happiest moments of her life. “It is crucial for me to clarify that at no time did I ask for this act, nor did I expect it,” she asserted.
The Impact of the Scandal
Rubiales, who held the position of president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) during the incident, has claimed that the kiss was merely a “celebratory kiss between friends” and insists that Hermoso consented. However, Hermoso has become a powerful symbol in the fight against sexism in sports, recounting the pressures she faced after the forced kiss. She revealed to the court that she had desperately called her agent, requesting them to reach out to someone within the federation to “stop” the intense pressures she was experiencing. “They were targeting my family and friends to coerce me into something I had already made clear I did not want to do,” she lamented.
Joining Rubiales in the trial are former coach Jorge Vilda and RFEF officials Rubén Rivera and Albert Luque, who are also accused of pressuring Hermoso, with the prosecution seeking a year and a half in prison for them. Hermoso further voiced her feelings of abandonment by the federation, stating, “No one approached me to see how I was doing. I felt completely left alone.” She added, “Until today, I feel like my life is on hold” due to the ongoing case.
The incident that sparked this scandal occurred on August 20, 2023, during the medal ceremony in Sydney after Spain’s victory over England in the World Cup final. In a shocking moment captured by cameras worldwide, Rubiales suddenly grabbed Hermoso’s head and kissed her on the lips. The indictment states that the kiss was delivered “by surprise and without the player’s consent.” Following this event, Hermoso was subjected to relentless pressures aimed at forcing her to publicly justify and accept the kiss. The former head of Spanish football is scheduled to take the stand starting February 12, as this case has become a rallying point in the fight against sexism in sports, with the hashtag #SeAcabó (“It’s over!”) gaining global traction. Rubiales ultimately resigned on September 10, 2023, after facing immense pressure to step down.