Jennifer Hermoso, a winner of the Women’s World Cup, described how an unwanted kiss from former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales “tainted the happiest day of my life” during the first day of his trial in Madrid.
Rubiales faces charges of sexual assault and coercion related to the incident, which took place during the medal ceremony after Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory in August 2023. Prosecutors are pushing for a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for him.
Hermoso testified in court on Monday, with Rubiales scheduled to testify on February 12. The trial is expected to run until February 19. Hermoso stated, “I knew I was being kissed by my boss, and that should not happen in any social or work environment.”
Jennifer Hermoso shared that the incident “tainted one of the happiest days of my life,” referring to the unwanted kiss from Luis Rubiales during Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory celebration.
She also revealed that since then, her life has felt as though it’s been on hold. “Honestly, I haven’t been able to live freely,” said the 34-year-old footballer.
The kiss, which was captured on camera during the medal ceremony, quickly went viral on social media. This sparked protests in several Spanish cities, with demonstrators aiming to raise awareness about the ongoing culture of misogyny in both sports and broader Spanish society.
In response, Rubiales, 47, claimed that the kiss was “mutual,” though Hermoso has consistently denied this.
During her testimony on Monday, Hermoso revealed that Rubiales pressured her to issue a statement downplaying the incident in the face of growing public backlash. She stated, “And I told him no, that I wasn’t going to do anything. I told him I was sorry, but I wasn’t going to do it.”