Spain star Jenni Hermoso has testified in court that a kiss from Luis Rubiales at the Women's World Cup in 2023 was "unexpected" and not consensual.
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- Hermoso in court over Rubiales scandal
- Testifies about World Cup kiss
- Says incident was "at no time consensual"
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Hermoso has given evidence in a court in Madrid about the incident after Spain's World Cup win in August 2023. The Spain star was kissed by Luis Rubiales, who at the time was the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), and told the judge the act was not consensual, according to BBC Sport. Spanish prosecutors opened a criminal investigation after the incident and a judge must now decide whether Rubiales will be tried for sexual assault and coercion.
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WHAT HERMOSO SAID
Hermoso told the court the kiss was "unexpected and in no way consensual." The World Cup winner also said she believed she had been a "victim of assault". Hermoso refused to say any more after leaving the court telling reporters only: "All is in the hands of justice, that's all I can say."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Rubiales has denied the allegations and refused to apologise for what he claimed was a "mutual kiss." However, he was subsequently forced to step down from his role as president of the RFEF and hit with a three-year ban from football by FIFA due to the scandal. Rubiales could face four or five years in prison if convicted of sexual assault, according to the .
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WHAT NEXT FOR HERMOSO
Hermoso has previously admitted life has been "very difficult" in the wake of the scandal and that she has been working with a psychologist after receiving threats. The 33-year-old has since returned to the Spain squad, and scored on her first game back against Italy, while she has also just completed a transfer from Pachuca to Tigres.
