Rubiales Claims Jenni Hermoso Gave Consent for Controversial Kiss in Court Testimony

In a court hearing, ex-RFEF president Luis Rubiales testified that he received consent from Jenni Hermoso for a kiss after the Women's World Cup final. Despite his assertion, Hermoso maintains her lack of consent, leading to an ongoing trial where Rubiales faces accusations of sexual assault and coercion.

Rubiales, the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has insisted in court that Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso provided her consent before he kissed her after the Women’s World Cup final held in 2023. The trial, underway at Spain’s National Court in Madrid, charges Rubiales with sexual assault and coercive actions to force Hermoso into declaring the kiss was consensual.

Rubiales portrayed the kiss as a "spontaneous act of affection" during his testimonies, emphasizing the significance of the moment following the medal ceremony after Spain’s triumphant World Cup win in Australia. He claimed, "This was a tremendous moment for her," and recounted that Hermoso had embraced him tightly around the waist before he asked if he could kiss her, to which he stated she consented. However, he acknowledged difficulty recalling whether he asked for a "little kiss" or a kiss in general.

When questioned about his awareness of the protocols surrounding sexual harassment, Rubiales confirmed he understood the guidelines but maintained that no criminal misconduct occurred. Hermoso had previously testified that she never consented to the kiss and described the experience as having "stained one of the happiest days of my life."

An expert in lip reading testified that video evidence indicated Rubiales asked Hermoso, "can I give you a kiss?" while her face was obscured. Rubiales did concede to making a mistake by acting inappropriately on the podium, noting that he should have adopted a more formal demeanor.

Following his suspension from FIFA and the commencement of the investigation by Spanish prosecutors, Rubiales resigned from his position in September 2023. Alongside him, three former RFEF officials—Jorge Vilda, Rubén Rivera, and Albert Luque—face trial for their alleged complicity in coercive actions. All defendants in this case, including Rubiales, deny the allegations. Prosecutors are pursuing a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales, with the trial's proceedings expected to continue until February 19.