Luis Rubiales risks up to two and a half years in prison – one year for sexual assault and one and a half years for unlawful coercion – for the scandalous kiss and attempts to influence star player Jennifer Hermoso after the incident in connection with the World Championship final in Australia in the summer of 2023.
On Tuesday, it was Rubiales' turn to testify in the courtroom in San Fernando de Henares outside Madrid.
Lip reader testified
I asked her if I could kiss her, says Rubiales, who later resigned as federation president.
The prosecutor asks if he usually greets Hermoso by kissing her on the mouth.
You don't win a football World Championship every day, replies Rubiales.
Earlier in the day, the defense had called in a lip reader as an expert. The lip reader claims that on a Tiktok video clip, it can be seen that Rubiales asks Hermoso if he can kiss her, but the prosecution questions the testimony.
It is emphasized that no video clip has been analyzed as to what the player responded in such a case, and the prosecutor was also doubtful as to whether the lip reader in question could be considered an expert.
When Jennifer Hermoso herself testified during the first day of the trial last week, she denied giving her consent.
"Was disrespectful"
It happened in a split second, I didn't have time to react. I just felt that it was completely wrong, my boss kissed me. It shouldn't happen, it was disrespectful on what should have been one of the happiest days of my life, said Hermoso.
After the incident, Rubiales allegedly attempted to put pressure on Hermoso and her family on several occasions and in several ways, so that he wouldn't get into trouble. Among other things, the football president wanted him and the player to make a video together, and he offered her compensation for cooperating.
Rubiales admits that the kiss was "inappropriate", but denies any form of coercion.
Former national team coach Jorge Vilda, former sports director Albert Luque, and ex-marketing director Ruben Rivera are also charged with attempting to influence Hermoso.
