Rubiales ‘totally sure’ Hermoso consented to kiss at World Cup, trial hears

Spain ex-football main Luis Rubiales has told his mentation of events successful tribunal implicit his alleged forced buss of subordinate Jenni Hermoso astatine the 2023 World Cup.

Former Spanish shot federation main Luis Rubiales has told a tribunal that subordinate Jenni Hermoso had fixed her consent for him to buss her successful the aftermath of Spain’s Women’s World Cup triumph successful 2023.

“I americium wholly definite that she gave maine her permission,” Rubiales told Spain’s National Court connected Tuesday successful Madrid wherever helium is lasting trial. “In that infinitesimal it was thing wholly spontaneous.”

Rubiales, 47, is accused of intersexual battle for kissing Hermoso connected the rima and past attempting to coerce her – with the assistance of 3 different erstwhile shot federation officials – into publically saying the buss astatine the World Cup awards ceremonial successful Australia had been consensual.

“She squeezed maine precise tightly nether my armpits, she lifted me, and erstwhile I came down I asked her if I tin springiness you a kiss, and she said ‘OK’, that’s what happened,” helium said.

“What happened had nary value neither for maine nor for her,” Rubiales added during his highly anticipated testimony, describing the buss arsenic “an enactment of affection”.

Prosecutors are seeking 2 and a fractional years successful situation against Rubiales for intersexual battle for the forced buss and allegedly coercing Hermoso to downplay the incident. Rubiales denies the complaint of coercion levelled against him, erstwhile women’s squad manager Jorge Vilda and 2 ex-federation officials.

Hermoso told the trial’s opening time connected February 3 that she felt “disrespected” by a non-consensual buss aft she had conscionable helped Spain triumph the World Cup.

Screen drawback of erstwhile president of the Spanish shot federation Luis Rubiales, accused of enactment battle and coercion implicit a forcible buss connected subordinate Jenni Hermoso, taking the basal during his proceedings astatine the tribunal of San Fernando de Henares, eastbound of Madrid, connected February 11, 2025. [Handout/Spanish National Court/AFP]