Luis Rubiales, the former head of Spain's soccer federation, took the stand in his ongoing sexual assault trial, defending the kiss he bestowed upon national team star Jennifer Hermoso during the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal ceremony. Rubiales maintained that the kiss was an innocent expression of triumphant joy rather than a forced act, asserting that it was customary in celebratory contexts.
Appearing in a Madrid court, Rubiales addressed the allegations leveled against him, which include sexual assault and coercion. He recounted the moment, saying, “You don’t win a World Cup every day,” and recalled asking Hermoso for consent before the kiss. “I asked her, ‘Can I give you a little kiss?’ and she said, ‘OK,’” he claimed.
However, Hermoso has refuted Rubiales' account, emphatically stating she did not consent to the kiss, indicating a feeling of shock and violation during the incident. “I couldn’t react — it was a thousandth of a second. This should not happen,” she noted during her testimony where she called the encounter an example of inappropriate behavior in the context of workplace dynamics.
The incident and Rubiales' subsequent resignation not only ignited a national conversation around consent and gender dynamics in sports but has also highlighted wider issues concerning a culture of machismo in Spain. As the trial unfolds, it reflects a significant cultural reckoning, showcasing the ongoing struggle for gender equality in soccer and beyond.
Appearing in a Madrid court, Rubiales addressed the allegations leveled against him, which include sexual assault and coercion. He recounted the moment, saying, “You don’t win a World Cup every day,” and recalled asking Hermoso for consent before the kiss. “I asked her, ‘Can I give you a little kiss?’ and she said, ‘OK,’” he claimed.
However, Hermoso has refuted Rubiales' account, emphatically stating she did not consent to the kiss, indicating a feeling of shock and violation during the incident. “I couldn’t react — it was a thousandth of a second. This should not happen,” she noted during her testimony where she called the encounter an example of inappropriate behavior in the context of workplace dynamics.
The incident and Rubiales' subsequent resignation not only ignited a national conversation around consent and gender dynamics in sports but has also highlighted wider issues concerning a culture of machismo in Spain. As the trial unfolds, it reflects a significant cultural reckoning, showcasing the ongoing struggle for gender equality in soccer and beyond.
