Spanish Football Chief Luis Rubiales Tells Court He Knew of Player Jenni Hermoso's Consent Before Alleged Kiss

Former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales testified in court on Tuesday, claiming that player Jenni Hermoso gave him her consent before an alleged forced kiss at the 2023 World Cup. Rubiales, 47, is standing trial for allegedly forcing a kiss on Hermoso and coercing her into publicly stating it was consensual during the World Cup awards ceremony in Australia.

Rubiales told Spain's National Court that he was "totally sure" that Hermoso gave him permission to kiss her after Spain's Women's World Cup victory. He described the incident as an "act of affection," claiming it was "something completely spontaneous."

The accusation is that Rubiales then attempted to coerce Hermoso, allegedly using the help of three other former football federation officials, into making the alleged kiss appear consensual in a public setting.

However, Hermoso had previously told the court that she felt disrespected by the non-consensual kiss and the idea that it might be portrayed as consensual. The 37-year-old Spanish player expressed her frustration with Rubiales' actions during the trial's opening day on February 3.

Prosecutors are seeking two and a half years in prison against Rubiales for the alleged forced kiss and coercion of Hermoso. Rubiales denies the charge of coercion levelled against him, formerly co-team manager Jorge Vilda and two ex-federation officials.

The ongoing hearing has raised questions about consent and power dynamics within Spanish football. As the trial continues, court documents and witness testimonies will shed more light on the events surrounding Rubiales' alleged actions.