Former Spanish football federation boss Luis Rubiales has told a court that he asked Jenni Hermoso if he could kiss her before doing so after they won the World Cup in 2023.
Rubiales and three other defendants—former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, the federation’s former sports director for the men’s national team, Albert Luque, and the former head of marketing, Rubén Rivera—are accused of trying to downplay the kiss on Hermoso, which happened during the 2023 Women’s World Cup final presentation ceremony.
He is also accused of sexual assault, while the other defendants are accused of coercion for allegedly trying to convince the player to support Rubiales’ version of events.
“I am absolutely sure that she gave me her permission,” Rubiales told the court in Madrid on Tuesday.
“In that moment, it was something completely spontaneous.”
When asked whether he usually kissed people on the lips, Rubiales replied: “You don’t win a World Cup every day.
“When I see my daughters, I don’t give them a peck, but on New Year’s Eve, I do.”
Hermoso has insisted she did not consent to the kiss, while Rubiales denies any wrongdoing and maintains that it was consensual.
Rubiales resigned three weeks after the scandal and was banned by FIFA for three years.
