Spanish football player Jennifer Hermoso appeared in court at the High Court in Madrid to provide her testimony in the sexual assault case against former soccer official Luis Rubiales. The case stems from an incident following Spain’s victory over England in the Women’s World Cup final, where Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips, an action she alleges was unwanted. Hermoso, a prominent figure in Spain’s women’s football, was anticipated to reiterate her claims in court that Rubiales and his team attempted to pressure her and her family into downplaying the incident, tarnishing Spain’s World Cup win.
The incident had far-reaching consequences, sparking outrage in the soccer world and prompting a crisis within Spanish football. It led to a boycott by World Cup-winning players and ultimately resulted in Rubiales’ resignation, despite his denial of wrongdoing and insistence that the kiss was consensual. In a closed-door testimony, Hermoso reiterated her stance that the kiss was unwanted and shed light on alleged attempts by Rubiales to coerce her and her relatives into minimizing the incident.
Spanish state prosecutors have accused Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion, citing attempts to convince Hermoso and her family to publicly downplay the kiss. The judge overseeing the case has heard testimonies from various players, coaches, and federation officials involved before considering whether to proceed with a trial. If found guilty under a recently passed sexual consent law, Rubiales could face fines or a prison sentence ranging from one to four years. Despite FIFA’s three-year ban on Rubiales, which extends beyond the men’s 2026 World Cup, he resigned from his positions within the federation and UEFA amid mounting pressure in Spain from lawmakers and players.
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