Former President of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, defended on Tuesday (11) before the court that he is “totally safe” that player Jenni Hermoso gave his consent to the kiss he gave him after the national team’s victory Women’s female in the World Cup final in 2023.
“I asked if I could kiss her and she said ‘ok’, that’s what happened,” Rubiales said in her expected statement in the trial faced by alleged sexual aggression and coercions that began on February 3.
Asked if he was sure that Hermoso had given his consent, Rubiales said he had “total certainty.”
The 47-year-old former chief of the federation is accused of sexual assault, by kissing the player’s mouth during the delivery of medals, and coercing for pressing hermoso to support him. The prosecution calls for 2.5 years in prison for both offenses.
“What had happened [o beijo] It had no importance, neither for me nor for her, “added the former director, who argued that the event” is not about “violent behavior, but” a gesture of affection “.
In his statement last week, Hermoso had stated, however, that that kiss should never have occurred, that he did not consent it and that he felt “little respected.”
Until then the maximum leader of the Spanish Federation, the scandal led to the fall of Rubiales, who was later forced to resign.
“I apologized for my behavior because it was not suitable and being on that platform I should have had more cold blood and not led me by emotion,” explained the former director on Tuesday, clarifying that he did not think he committed any offenses.
He also denied having asked other members of the Federation to press Hermoso to minimize the matter.
Hermoso asked them to leave her “at peace”
The scandal burst on August 23, 2023, when the Spanish women’s team players, after winning the World Cup in Sydney, reached the podium to receive the medals.
As he congratulates Hermoso, number 10, Rubiales grabbed his head with both hands and kissed her lips.
The outstanding player, converted into a symbol against sexism in Spanish football, always argued that the kiss was imposed against his will.
In her testimony, the current Mexico Tiger striker reported the “countless” times they asked her to make a statement or video to justify the facts until she asked them to leave her “at peace.”
Since the beginning of the lawsuit at the National Court of San Fernando de Henares, on the outskirts of Madrid, the former leader assists witness statements.
These included Hermoso’s companions, who described how the player was devastated after the forced kiss and how the pressures to excuse Rubiales affected her.
In addition to him, three other defendants face 18-month prison penalties: former women’s coach Jorge Vilda and two former Spanish federation leaders Rubén Rivera and Albert Luque, prosecuted for coercing hermoso.
“Can I kiss you?”
During Tuesday’s hearing, a lip reading expert, who witnessed at the request of Rubiales’s defense, said that in a video the former Spanish football coach can be seen asking hermose “Can I kiss you?” Before you give it.
But the expert, David Murillo, said he could not see if Hermoso answered.
“Ruby”, as he is known to his neighbor, performed with authority and clung to him despite a suspension of FIFA (International Football Federation) and the growing requests for resignation after the scandal.
He eventually gave in to the pressure and resigned on September 10, 2023.
Rubiales is also investigated in court for alleged corruption and irregular contracts during its presidency of the Spanish Federation, between 2018 and 2023.
