Madrid: Jenni Hermoso, Spain’s star footballer, spoke out on Monday at the trial of former football chief Luis Rubiales, describing the forced kiss he gave her after Spain’s victory in the 2023 Women’s World Cup as something that “shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting.”
Rubiales’ actions sparked global outrage when he cupped Hermoso’s head and kissed her on the lips without consent after Spain defeated England to win the World Cup in Australia. Prosecutors have demanded a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales, including one year for the sexual assault charge stemming from the kiss, and 18 months for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to downplay the incident.
Rubiales, however, maintains that the kiss was a harmless “peck between friends celebrating” and denies any coercion.
Hermoso’s Testimony
In her testimony on the opening day of the trial, Hermoso said: “This shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting… A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so.” The 34-year-old footballer expressed that she felt disrespected, recalling that the incident “stained one of the happiest days” of her life. She added, “For me, it is very important to say that at no point did I seek that act, let alone expect it.”
Rubiales is set to take the stand on February 12, with the trial running until February 19. Alongside Rubiales, former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda and two federation officials, Ruben Rivera and Albert Luque, face accusations of attempting to coerce Hermoso. Prosecutors have called for 18 months’ imprisonment for them as well.
Media and Personal Pressure
Hermoso also described the immense media pressure and threats she faced after the kiss, noting that her life felt “on stand by” as she received death threats and was followed by photographers. The stress prompted her to relocate with her family for safety. “Until today, it feels like my life has been on stand by,” she said.
The scandal, which erupted on August 20, 2023, following Spain’s World Cup victory, significantly tarnished the celebratory moment. Rubiales kissed Hermoso as she stood with her teammates to collect their medals, an act that many saw as an abuse of power. This moment has since turned Hermoso into a symbol of the fight against sexism and toxic masculinity in sports.
Under Spain’s new criminal code, a non-consensual kiss is classified as sexual assault.
Historic Victory Overshadowed
In a show of support, Spain’s Equality Minister Ana Redondo praised Hermoso’s courage, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Thank you again, Jenni, for your bravery. Thanks to you and your teammates we add another victory for feminism.”
Rubiales, who had already been under investigation for alleged corruption during his tenure as the president of Spain’s football federation, resigned in September 2023 following public pressure and the investigation into the kiss. He had held the position since 2018.
In the Netflix documentary “Se Acabo” (“It’s Over”), Hermoso revealed that she cried following the kiss. She also noted that “no one came to ask me how I was” afterward and felt completely abandoned by the football federation.