Jenni Hermoso Testifies In Luis Rubiales Sexual Assault Case After Kiss Controversy At FIFA Women's World Cup final

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Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso, who was kissed on the lips by the former Spanish football president Luis Rubiales at the FIFA Women's World Cup final 2023, appeared in a Madrid court on Tuesday to testify in the sexual assault case against the former official.

Jenni Hermoso gave her version of the kiss by Luis Rubiales following Spain's victory over England in the final in Sydney in August 2023. One of the worst crises in Spanish football history was brought on by the occurrence, which infuriated people throughout the world.

The World Cup-winning players boycotted the Spanish national squad as a result, and Luis Rubiales eventually resigned despite his denials of guilt and claims that the kiss was consensual.

Hermoso was expected to reiterate in court her allegations that Rubiales and his group had tried to pressure her and her family into downplaying the incident that spoiled Spain's first-ever Women's World Cup triumph.

The testimony was anticipated to take place in private. According to Spanish media, Hermoso requested that the judge limit of her court appearance to as much as private as possible. She waved to the media when she came in her gray coat and followed her attorneys inside the court through one of the main doors.

Luis Rubiales was charged by state prosecutors in Spain with sexual assault and coercion after they claimed he attempted to persuade Hermoso and her family to downplay the kiss in public.

Before determining whether to proceed with a trial, the judge is also considering the testimony of coaches, federation officials, and former World Cup-winning players. Prior to receiving a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting Hermoso, Rubiales told the judge he had done nothing wrong.

The 33-year-old Hermoso, the women's team record scorer for Spain, claimed last year that she got threats as a result of the kiss, though she did not provide further details. After coming out to criticise the kiss and support the Me Too movement in Spain, Jenni Hermoso gained celebrity status in the country. During her Saturday New Year's Eve appearance on public television, she advocated for greater equality in 2024.