RUBIALES CASE: "HERMOSO GAVE ME PERMISSION TO KISS HER," TESTIFIES FORMER SPANISH FOOTBALL PRESIDENT

Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, has denied committing an act of "sexual aggression" or exerting pressure on player Jenni Hermoso. Rubiales is currently on trial for the "non-consensual" kiss he gave Hermoso during the celebrations of the women's national team's 2023 World Cup victory. He also denied later pressuring the athlete to downplay the incident. These statements emerged during Rubiales's interrogation as part of the trial, where he answered questions from all parties involved.

Rubiales's Testimony

The former RFEF president provided his version of the events that caused a sensation following the award ceremony for the Spanish players after their World Cup final victory over England in Sydney on August 20, 2023.

"Jenni approaches me and makes a face... we've known each other for many years. And it was because, despite the win, she had missed a penalty, and for her, with all the tension in the match, this was terrible," Rubiales recounted. "I then told her: 'Forget about the penalty, we are champions, and this is also thanks to you. We couldn't have done it without you.' She hugged me very tightly under my armpits, lifted me up, and when I came back down, I asked her: 'Can I give you a little kiss?' And she said: 'Okay.'"

At that moment, the prosecutor asked Rubiales: "Are you sure Hermoso gave you her approval, her consent?" "Completely sure," he replied.

This version, however, clearly contradicts Hermoso's own testimony given in court days earlier. Rubiales reiterated that he did not exert any "coercion" over the player, admitting he was "mistaken" in "not maintaining a more institutional demeanor" during the post-match celebrations. "But from there to saying there was a crime, there's a long way," he asserted from his perspective.

Related "Harassment" Case Emerges

In a somewhat connected development to the Hermoso case, another alleged incident of "harassment" is currently in the spotlight. This involves Barcelona footballer Mapi Leon, who, as seen in frames published on social media, touched opponent Daniela Caracas in an intimate area during a match. Notably, Leon herself has been one of Rubiales's most vocal accusers.