Unauthorised Kiss by Former Spanish Football Coach Luis Rubiales: First Court Hearing Takes Place in Spain
The day before, on Monday, the trial against the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, for kissing a teammate on the field without permission - one of the most high-profile cases in recent years - opened in Spain, Elmundo and Elpais write.
533 days after the kiss spoiled the celebration of the Spanish historic victory at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Luis Rubiales sat in the dock of the Central Criminal Court of the National Court. He is on trial for two counts of sexual assault and attempting to force 34-year-old footballer Hermoso to admit to a consensual kiss. Wilda, former sporting director of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Albert Luque and former head of marketing at the RFEF Ruben Rivera are also on trial for their alleged role in pressuring Hermoso. The prosecutor's office is seeking a 2.5-year prison sentence.
On Monday, the former president of the Royal Federation of Spain was the first to arrive at the courthouse in San Fernando de Henares by taxi at around 9.10am, accompanied by his lawyer Olga Tubo. Shortly afterwards, the victim, Jenny Hermoso, arrived.
Rubiales avoided looking at Hermoso, with whom he had a good relationship, as she admitted in court. Serious and constantly writing things down in a notebook he carried, the former president of the Spanish Federation tried to remain calm until, in fact, the
The player Jenny Hermoso answered questions from the prosecution and five lawyers: her own, the private prosecution lawyer, Rubiales' lawyer, Jorge Wilda's lawyer, Ruben Rivera's lawyer and Albert Luque's lawyer.
For almost three hours, the top scorer of the Spanish women's national football team spoke about countless feelings and emotions.
‘I knew I was kissed by my boss and that should not happen in any social or work environment,’ Hermoso said in court.
Rubiales' testimony is scheduled for 12 February. The trial is expected to last until 19 February.
As a reminder, at the FIFA Women's World Cup Final in August 2023 in Sydney, Australia, after Spain's victory over England, Coach Rubiales grabbed his crotch while celebrating the victory with members of the Spanish royal family. Later, during the medal ceremony, he hugged and lifted Spanish football star Jenny Hermoso off her feet, then grabbed her head and pulled her close to kiss her on the lips in front of a packed Olympic Stadium and a multi-million television audience. It is alleged that Rubiales, along with former women's national team coach Jorge Wilda, later forced Hermoso to sign a statement exonerating them of the crime.
Rubiales initially denied the accusations, calling his critics ‘idiots’, and then recanted just two days after the final. ‘Of course I was wrong, I have to admit it,’ he said.