Jennifer Hermoso, the Spanish soccer star who was forcibly kissed by Luis Rubiales, the former president of Spain's soccer federation, testified at the opening of his trial on Monday that he had “ruined one of the happiest days of my life” — her team’s victory in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Ms. Hermoso recounted her shock at the unexpected kiss from Mr. Rubiales, who faces charges of sexual assault and coercion. She described the distress she experienced as Mr. Rubiales and other soccer officials pressured her to publicly support him following the incident, which sparked widespread outrage on social media.
“I felt disrespected,” Ms. Hermoso, 34, stated during her televised testimony in Madrid, adding, “I didn’t look for that act, nor did I expect it.”
The kiss ignited a national scandal, highlighting issues of sexism in Spanish soccer and marking a significant moment in Spain’s #MeToo movement. Less than a year and a half later, Mr. Rubiales is one of four former soccer officials on trial.
Mr. Rubiales, 47, could face two and a half years in prison if convicted, while the other three men, including Jorge Vilda, the team’s coach during the 2023 World Cup, are charged with coercion and could face 18 months each.
Ms. Hermoso has consistently maintained that the kiss was non-consensual, a claim disputed by Mr. Rubiales. “I couldn’t react — it was a thousandth of a second,” she testified.
She also alleged that Mr. Rubiales threatened to contact her family and pressured her to record a video downplaying the incident. Following her refusal to comply, she was briefly omitted from the national team’s roster, which she viewed as a potential punishment. “I was afraid to go out in the street in case someone was chasing me,” she said, noting that she had received death threats.
The Spanish national team’s 1-0 victory over England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final initially sparked national celebration. However, the joy was overshadowed when Mr. Rubiales kissed Ms. Hermoso during the medals ceremony. In a post-match video, she expressed her discontent, stating, “I didn’t like that!”
The public response was immediate and intense, with many viewing the kiss as emblematic of ongoing sexism in Spanish soccer. Calls for Mr. Rubiales to resign grew louder, with Irene Montero, the former Spanish equality minister, labeling the kiss as “sexual violence” on social media.
Initially, Mr. Rubiales issued a lukewarm apology and resisted resigning. The Spanish soccer federation released a statement that included Ms. Hermoso’s characterization of the kiss as “a totally spontaneous mutual gesture.” However, during the trial, Ms. Hermoso clarified that she had never approved that statement, asserting, “My boss was kissing me. This should not happen.”
In the aftermath of the incident, numerous Spanish soccer players declared they would refuse to play for the national team until the current management stepped down, a move widely interpreted as targeting Mr. Rubiales and Mr. Vilda.
Ms. Hermoso subsequently filed a criminal complaint of sexual assault against Mr. Rubiales, stating, “At no time did I consent to the kiss that he gave me.” As public pressure mounted, Mr. Rubiales’s support dwindled, leading to his suspension by FIFA and a three-year ban from the sport. Mr. Vilda was dismissed, and Mr. Rubiales resigned from his positions in the Spanish soccer federation and UEFA.
Additionally, Mr. Rubiales was briefly arrested last year amid a broader investigation into allegations of corruption and money laundering during his tenure in Spanish soccer, although no charges have been filed against him, and he denies any wrongdoing.
Even if convicted, Mr. Rubiales may avoid prison time, as Spanish law typically does not impose prison sentences for first-time offenders receiving sentences of two years or less.
Ms. Hermoso described the kiss and its aftermath as a lasting trauma, stating, “My life has been on standby. And, honestly, I have not been able to live freely.”