Jennifer Hermoso, a winner of the Women’s World Cup, stated that an unwanted kiss from Luis Rubiales, the former chief of the Spanish football federation, has “tainted the happiest day of my life” as he faced trial in Madrid.
Rubiales faces charges of one count of sexual assault and one count of coercion related to the incident that took place during the medal ceremony following Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory in August 2023.
Prosecutors are pursuing a two-and-a-half year prison sentence for Rubiales.
On Monday, Hermoso gave her testimony at the trial, with Rubiales expected to take the stand on February 12. The trial is anticipated to continue until February 19.
“I was aware that my boss was kissing me, and that should never occur in any professional or social setting,” Hermoso remarked in court in the Spanish capital.
She added, “It feels as though this moment has overshadowed one of the happiest days of my life.”
“The past few months have felt like my life has been on hold; in truth, I have not lived freely,” the 34-year-old athlete expressed.
The kiss was caught on video during the medal presentation ceremony and rapidly spread on social media.
Following the incident, protests erupted in various Spanish cities as demonstrators aimed to bring attention to the ongoing issue of misogyny in sports and broader Spanish society.
In response, Rubiales, 47, claimed that the kiss was “mutual,” though Hermoso has consistently denied this assertion.
On Monday, Hermoso also recounted that Rubiales had coerced her into issuing a statement that downplayed the incident amidst the public outcry against him.
