It was during the celebration of Spain's World Championship gold that Luis Rubiales took hold of Jennifer Hermoso's head and kissed her on the mouth.
According to Rubiales, she had given her consent, but Hermoso does not think so. Rubiales risks 2.5 years in prison for sexual assault and illegal coercion in the trial that began in Madrid on Monday.
Jennifer Hermoso was the first to be questioned by the prosecutor. She denied giving her consent to be kissed and said she had no chance to pull away when Rubiales pressed himself against her.
It happened in a split second, I didn't have time to react. I just felt it was completely wrong, my boss kissed me. It shouldn't happen, it was disrespectful during what should have been one of the happiest days of my life.
Pressured
Afterwards, Rubiales allegedly tried to pressure Hermoso and her family on several occasions and in several ways, so that he wouldn't get into trouble over the kiss. Among other things, the football chairman wanted to make a video together with the player and offered her compensation for cooperating.
He said his daughters were feeling bad, but I said "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to make a video. You know what you've done and it wasn't right. You're going to get in trouble", said Hermoso.
Understood the consequences
The prosecutor asked Hermoso if she was aware of the consequences of contradicting Rubiales.
Yes, that I wouldn't play in the national team and I wasn't called up to the first gathering after the World Championship.
The 34-year-old said she couldn't move freely in Spain after the scandal.
My life changed. I got death threats, messages of all kinds. I had to leave Madrid. My life has been on hold until today. I haven't been able to have a free life, says Hermoso.
Thank God I play in Mexico.
Hermoso has played in Mexico since 2022, for Pachuca and now Tigres UANL.
The incident led to a new #MeToo wave in Spain. Luis Rubiales tried to cling to the chairman's job, but eventually resigned in early September 2023. Later in the fall, Rubiales was banned from all football-related activities for three years by the international football federation Fifa.
