Jenni Hermoso ‘never’ agreed to kiss from former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales | World News

World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso has told the trial of Luis Rubiales she “never” agreed to the former Spanish football chief kissing her on the lips – and the moment “tainted one of the happiest days” of her life.

Rubiales is on trial in Madrid for kissing Hermoso after Spain won the Women’s World Cup.

The 47-year-old is accused of sexual assault and of then attempting to coerce Hermoso into declaring the kiss had been consensual. He denies the charges.

Hermoso, 34, who is Spain’s all-time top goalscorer, told Madrid’s High Court on Monday she “felt disrespected” and had “never” agreed to the kiss.

“I didn’t hear or understand anything,” she said. “The next thing he did was to grab me by the ears and kiss me on the mouth.

“I knew I was being kissed by my boss and that should not happen in any social or work environment,” she added.

“I think it was a moment that tainted one of the happiest days of my life.”

The defence asked her about a dressing room video in which she appears to say “alright” when asked what she said to Rubiales in the moment.

Hermoso said she had also explained she did not like the kiss.

She told the court how after the incident and the surrounding controversy, her life had been put on hold.

“I have not been able to really live freely,” she said.

Former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, former Spanish football federation sporting director Albert Luque and the organisation’s ex-head of marketing Ruben Rivera are also going on trial accused of putting pressure on Hermoso.

Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips as players collected their medals after Spain had beaten England 1-0 in the final in Sydney in August 2023.

He lost his job after initially refusing to resign and in October 2023 was banned from all football-related activities for three years by world governing body FIFA.

The fallout from the incident led to a boycott by Spanish players of both the women’s and men’s national teams, while the case sparked protests in Spain and beyond demanding “a sport free of sexist violence”.

Rubiales ‘called his critics idiots’

Prosecutors say Hermoso was pulled aside on the bus to the airport and asked to approve a statement in her name downplaying the incident, which she says she refused to do.

The prosecution also says Vilda warned Hermoso’s brother that his sister’s football career would suffer if she did not agree to record a video backing Rubiales’ claim the kiss was consensual.

Rubiales initially called his critics “idiots” before later apologising, saying the brief kiss was “without bad faith at a time of maximum effusiveness”.

Rubiales and his co-defendants are expected to testify later in the trial once the court has interviewed the other witnesses.

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Hermoso’s teammates to give evidence

He has called his daughters to testify while several of Hermoso’s Spanish teammates will also provide evidence.

The prosecution wants Rubiales jailed for more than two years.

In Spain, people handed sentences of less than two years can avoid jail if they pay damages.