Women’s World Cup kiss: Hermoso testifies in sexual assault case

Jenny Hermoso heading to court.Photo:triblive.com

Jenny Hermoso, who was kissed on the lips by Spain’s former president, Luis Rubiales, at the Women’s World Cup final in New Zealand, appeared in court yesterday to testify in the sexual assault case against the former official, reports morningstaronline.co.uk.

Hermoso was at the Madrid court to give her version of the kiss by Rubiales following Spain’s victory over England in the final in Sydney in August.

“Everything went well,” Hermoso told reporters afterwards. “The judicial process will continue its course, and thanks for the support that many of you had given to me.”

The incident sparked outrage across the football world and ignited one of the worst crises in the history of the sport in Spain.

It also led to a boycott of the national team by the World Cup-winning players, and to the eventual resignation of Rubiales despite his denial of wrongdoing and his allegation that the kiss was consensual.

Hermoso’s testimony was given behind closed doors. But she likely reiterated in court her allegations that the kiss was unwanted, and that Rubiales and his staff put pressure on her and her family to downplay the incident that tarnished Spain’s first Women’s World Cup title.

Spanish media said Hermoso asked the judge to keep her court appearance as private as possible.

Spanish state prosecutors accused Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion, alleging he tried to convince Hermoso and her relatives to publicly downplay the kiss.

The judge is also hearing testimony from other World Cup-winning players, coaches and federation officials, before deciding whether to start a trial.

Rubiales previously denied wrongdoing to the judge, who imposed a restraining order on him not to contact