Session Of Former President Of The Spanish Federation: Jenni Hermoso Testifies

Jenni Hermoso will testify at Luis Rubiales' trial (Instagram/@jennihermoso).

JAKARTA - Jenni Hermoso - one of the Spanish Women's National Team players who won the 2023 World Cup - testified on Monday, February 3, 2025, in the trial of former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales on sexual assault.

The 34-year-old striker is the first witness in a trial that began at Madrid High Court and will last at least nine days.

Rubiales, 47, was accused of sexual assault and then tried to force Hermoso - with the help of three other men - to claim that the kiss was consensual.

He also denied the allegations. In fact, Rubiales was seen by millions of people around the world gripping Hermoso's head and kissing her lips during the award ceremony after the 2023 Women's World Cup final.

"He grabbed my head passionately. I couldn't react. It was just a fraction of a second. I felt it didn't make sense at all. I knew my boss kissed me."

"That shouldn't have happened. I feel disrespected. It damaged one of the most beautiful days of my life. I didn't expect that. I didn't expect it either. I'm not respected."

"I told Alexia (Putellas) and Irene (Paredes) that Rubiales had kissed me in the mouth. Alexia said, 'It doesn't make sense!' I feel it's not normal," Hermoso told the court on Monday, February 3, 2025.

Rubiales, who will provide evidence later this month, said the move was carried out on a consensual basis. He said he felt he was a victim of aggression.

However, Hermoso - who was first questioned by the state prosecutor and then by defense attorney Rubiales - revealed what he thought was an attempt by RFEF to protect Rubiales after the kiss.

"The bus (team) stopped and I got off. The press officers were waiting for me. They showed me a cellphone containing a statement."

"They wrote it down to be sent to the press and to calm the commotion. They wanted to take that step to put out the fire."

"I read a glimpse of the text. I don't want to know what was actually written there. I became very upset."

"I don't want to do anything more. I'm fed up and told them to do whatever you want," Hermoso said, telling an incident as the team traveled to the airport in Sydney.

Hermoso said Rubiales then spoke to him privately during a flight from Australia to Spain.

"(Rubiales) asked me to help him. There was a lot of excitement, they called it an aggressor."

"I said no, I'm not going to do anything. He asked me (to) do it for the sake of his daughters, who are going through difficult times."

"I said I was sorry, but I wouldn't. He said his wife wasn't bothered (by the kiss)," Hermoso said again in his testimony.

The scandal that came after Spain won the Women's World Cup for the first time was a turning point for the efforts of Spanish female footballers to uncover sexism and achieve equality with male players.

"Since I set foot in Spain, television cameras have always been outside my house, 24 hours a day, people are waiting for me. People follow me, people take my photos."

"I have to leave Madrid with my whole family. I'm afraid to get out on the street in case someone catches up with me."

"I received death threats, various messages. We left Madrid. That is inevitable," Hermoso said.

The trial will present several Hermoso teammates, including Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, to testify. Meanwhile Rubiales has asked his two daughters to testify.

He and the other defendants - former coach of the Spanish Women's National Team, Jorge Vilda, former RFEF Sports Director, Albert Luque, and former RFEF Marketing Chief Ruben Rivera, will testify on February 12, 2025 after the court interviewed other witnesses.

Prosecutors demand a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales, although in Spain those sentenced under two years can usually avoid imprisonment by paying compensation if they do not have a previous criminal record.

This scandal sparked a strike by Hermoso's team-mates and resulted in several heads in the federation rolling over, with Rubiales' right-hand and successors also being ousted. Finally, the Spanish Women's National Team for the first time was handled by a female coach.