Members of Spain’s women’s national team have testified in a Madrid court this week, as the trial over Luis Rubiales’ forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final begins.

Rubiales, the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, is accused of sexual assault and coercion stemming from the kiss he planted on Hermoso during the trophy presentation in Sydney, Australia. Hermoso, her teammates, and family members have described the event as a ‘stain’ on an otherwise joyous occasion, also detailing a campaign to silence her in the hours following the incident.

Prosecutors suggest Rubiales should face one year in prison for sexual assault and another 18 months for coercion.

How did the controversy begin?

Hermoso was congratulated by several dignitaries as she approached the stage to receive her World Cup medal on August 20, 2023, when Rubiales kissed her unexpectedly. Almost instantly, this incident evoked worldwide outrage, not just within the soccer community, but also from a broader audience in Spain.

Many demanded Rubiales’ resignation, especially in light of the allegations of sexism and adverse working conditions that Spanish women’s national players had previously filed against the federation a year prior. Rubiales was suspended by FIFA on August 26, 2023, and finally resigned on September 10, though legal issues surrounding his actions are still unresolved. He even faced temporary detention by Spanish authorities in April 2024 due to a corruption inquiry during his presidency.

What was said in court?

Hermoso provided testimony on Monday, recounting the incident as well as Rubiales’ efforts to mitigate the fallout. “I greeted the queen, I greeted her daughter,” Hermoso reflected on the trophy ceremony. “After that, Rubiales grabbed me by the ears and kissed me on the mouth. I didn’t understand anything. A kiss on the lips is something given when I decide.”

Initially, her teammates joked about the incident, but defender Irene Paredes intervened. Hermoso shared that she was later pressured to agree to a federation statement, which she declined, and that Rubiales requested her to record a video downplaying the affair. Hermoso’s brother, Rafael, mentioned that Vilda urged him to talks with his sister while returning to Spain.

“We discussed soccer and our team’s achievement, then he brought up the kiss,” Rafael recalled. “He stated that Rubiales wanted me to persuade Jenni to record the video to downplay the kiss, thinking it would be for the best. I told him I wouldn’t convince her to do something I disagree with.”

Paredes recounted the behavior her teammate faced from federation officials following the World Cup final, emphasizing Hermoso’s distress that was evident during their celebratory trip to Ibiza.

Hermoso stated, “No one approached me to check how I was doing after the kiss, and I felt entirely neglected by the federation, which stained what should have been the happiest moment of my life. There was no room for me to express my sorrow or withdraw quietly in the locker room.”