The Jenni Hermoso World Cup champion in Spain was courted on Monday to testify during the Luis Rubiales trial, the former Spanish football president who kissed her controversial during the celebration of the 2023 Cup .
During his testimony, Hermoso denied saying that the kiss, which caused world indignation, was consensual.
“I felt disrespectful,” said Hermoso in front of the high court of Madrid. “I think it was a moment that stained one of the happiest days in my life.”
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Luis Rubiales embraces Jennifer Hermoso at the medal ceremony for the FIFA World Cup final match at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023, in Sydney. (Noemi Llamas / Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images)
Hermoso added that she “had heard nothing or understood” rubial when asked if he had asked to kiss her.
“The next thing he did was to grasp me by the ears and kiss me on the mouth,” she said.
Rubials, 47, is accused of sexual assault and trying to force Hermoso, as well as others, to support it publicly.
Ex-Espain Soccer Boss Luis Rubiales to deal with a test on the Women’s World Cup Kiss
He denied the charges against him, saying that the kiss was consensual and occurred in a “moment of jubilation”.
He maintains that Hermoso “raised me” like a festive gesture and asked him “a little kiss”. Rubials says she said yes.
Prosecutors, Hermoso and the country’s association ask the judge to issue a two -and -a half years prison sentence, as well as a payment of 50,000 euros for damages and prohibited to work again as a sports official.
Jennifer Hermoso and head coach Jorge Vilda listen to journalists’ questions at a press conference before the semi-final match in the female world between Spain and Sweden in Auckland, New Zealand. (AP photo / Alessandra Tarantino, file)
Rubials could incur a fine or a prison sentence from one to four years old if he was found guilty of his accusations by civil servants.
The former coach of the Spanish national team Jorge Vilda, the former sports director of the Spanish male national team Albert Luque, and the former marketing chief of the football federation, Ruben Rivera, are also judged to Having allegedly put pressure on hermoso to publicly defend rubial after the incident.
Rubiales was put under pressure from his post as president of Spanish football in 2023, resigning while being banned by FIFA for three years despite a first press conference where he reiterated that he would not resign. Rubiales declared in this speech that he was the victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists”.
Since the incident, Hermoso says that she had a hard time escaping the spotlight, especially in Mexico where she plays for her club team between her functions for her country.
Jennifer Hermoso reacts after missing a chance to score during a women’s World Cup match between Japan and Spain in Wellington, New Zealand, July 31, 2023. (AP photo / John Cowpland, file)
“I was not really able to live freely,” she said in her testimony.
During his seven World Cup games, Hermoso collected three goals and two assists to help the efforts of his team to win the trophy.
