Spain football kiss 'stained' World Cup win, player tells trial

Jenni Hermoso has told the trial of Spain's former football chief Luis Rubiales that the kiss he gave her at the 2023 World Cup "stained one of the happiest days of my life".

The Spanish world champion footballer was the first witness in Rubiales' trial over the kiss, where he is accused of sexual assault and coercion.

She told the court in Madrid: "My boss was kissing me, and this shouldn't happen in any social or work setting."

Rubiales sparked major controversy when he kissed the athlete on the lips during the medal ceremony for the side's World Cup victory in Australia, triggering protests and calls for his resignation. He denies any wrongdoing.

Hermoso told the court that she had never given permission to be kissed and felt "disrespected" as a woman.

"I greeted the queen, I greeted her daughter. The next thing was meeting Rubiales."

Hermoso said she and the then-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation hugged and celebrated.

She continued to celebrate "the greatest achievement" of her life with her teammates, Hermoso explained.

"There was no place for me to be crying or lying in the corner of the dressing room."

The other players initially made fun of the incident before one, Irene Paredes, intervened to say: "Stop, this is serious."

Actually, I am a woman who was married a long time, and I also dated other men before marriage. I have no daughters - only sons, all of whom I raised to be gentlemen.

Believe me, if I thought his behavior was criminal, I would say so.

I see nothing predatory about that ‘kiss.’ And it certainly doesn’t warrant criminal charges or prison time.

If it had happened to me in the same situation, I would not have had a problem with it. If a husband or boyfriend had hit the roof over it, I would think he was overreacting.

It’s not like the man was a stranger who walked up and kissed her. The team won. He was hugging and kissing all the players. Those other players didn’t claim he’d assaulted them.

Maybe there is a cultural difference here. See my post #32 above.

It’s one thing to complain that someone you know gave you a quick peck on the lips. It’s quite another for the kisser to be charged with a crime or sent to prison.

With respect, because your reply was so respectful and IMO how people should disagree, I would just point out;

1. Spain has a very different legal system than ours. It is wrong (but understandable) to not be aware of just how different.

2. Hermoso did not seek to charge Rubiales criminally. She did not make a criminal complaint. The judge in this case elevated it to criminal after review.

3. In Spain, there is no difference between sexual harassment and assault. That is a somewhat recent change in the law but again, in keeping with Spains legal system.

4. The judge in this case also found that Hermoso was pressured by multiple people including Rubiales ( Head of Spanish Soccer), the national director of women’s soccer and others to make a video for release where she would state that it was consensual.

6. Beyond the completely unequal power dynamic, they specifically threatened that she would not play again if she did not absolve her boss. They threatened her through her family as well.

I am very far from believe all women BUT this case is egregious. People focusing on just the kids are really missing the point.

* As I have said before, this has echoes of Weinstein & Diddy. Rubiales is a known crass pig. He was reprimanded for disgusting behavior re women when in the presence of one of Spains female royals. Where there is smoke, there is fire. He behaved inappropriately, abused his power and tried to intimidate a victim. Don’t see how anybody is defending him really.

First of all, I commend you for being the kind of man who would defend his wife and daughters. Kudos to you.

Before your last post, I didn’t know the details of this case.

Checking further, I see there is more to it, as you pointed out.

This seems to be the timeline:

- When his team won, he was caught on video cheering and grabbing his crotch: https://x.com/MichaelEmilio_/status/1693968909118885955

- Next, he planted the controversial kiss on Hermoso (fourth player in line): https://x.com/thefutballboy_1/status/1881215529752604933

- The ‘kiss’ immediately garnered attention and criticism.

- The next day, Rubiales apologized in a video: https://x.com/nocomment/status/1694016588880523269

- In a livestream, Hermoso complained about the kiss.

- More uproar in Spain with even the PM commenting that Rubiales’s apology was not enough.

- The Spanish soccer federation put out a statement allegedly by Hermoso saying the kiss was spontaneous but mutual.

- Hermoso said she did not make that statement and she had refused to appear in Rubiales’s apology video.

- Two days later, FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales.

- The next day, Rubiales refused to resign, and he was suspended.

- Hermoso filed a criminal complaint over the ‘kiss’: https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/38338448/hermoso-accuses-rubiales-sexual-assault-wc-kiss

- Rubiales resigned... etc.

After finding the video of his crotch-grab, I agree that his conduct was over-the-top obnoxious.

I still say the peck on the lips was much ado about nothing.

But, after the federation lied and he tried to pressure her into supporting him, I can see why she decided to go to war.

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