Spanish World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso has given a detailed account of the kissing incident which involved the former Spanish FA president, Luis Rubiales.
It will be recalled that Rubiales was seen on television kissing Hermoso on the lips after the final of the 2022 FIFA Women’s World Cup, sparking outrage and circumstances that led to the RFEF president being suspended and charged in court for assault.
During the hearings about the case, Hermoso gave testimony against Rubiales, insisting that she never consented to the kiss and revealing efforts made by the Spanish FA to silence her.
She started her statement, revealed by Marca, by saying, “At no time was the kiss consensual. They tarnished my image; I felt, as a player and worker of the Federation, that no one was protecting me. They were asking me to protect them, to help them, but at no time did I feel that anyone was protecting me.”
When asked how she felt after the incident and why she chose to continue with celebrations instead of making a scene after the World Cup final, she said, “I was a little more nervous. At no time would I have allowed myself to start crying in a corner so that everyone could tell me ‘What’s going on?’. It was time to celebrate. I also had to protect my teammates.
Rubiales has since resigned from his role as RFEF president and has also been handed a restriction order from reaching out to Hermoso or coming within 200 yards of the former Barcelona midfielder.
