Spanish star Hermoso testifies about Rubiales's World Cup kiss
Footballer Jenni Hermoso, on her way out of her testimony in Madrid on Tuesday. The case against the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales for alleged crimes of sexual assault and coercion faces its final stretch with the player's statement. Picture: Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Spanish World Cup-winning star Jenni Hermoso told a judge on Tuesday that the kiss forced on her by disgraced former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales was "at no point consensual" and that she had come under pressure to defend his actions.
After arriving at the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid just before 10am, the 33-year-old went to testify before Judge Francisco de Jorge, who is investigating Rubiales on allegations of sexual assault and coercion.
"At the end of her declaration, she ratified the statement made at the public prosecutor's office that the kiss was completely unexpected and at no point was it consensual," a judicial source told AFP.
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 was expected to reiterate in court her allegations that the kiss was unwanted and Rubiales and his staff tried to pressure her and her family to downplay the incident that tarnished Spain's first Women's World Cup title.
The testimony was expected behind close doors, with Spanish media saying Hermoso asked the judge to keep her court appearance as private as possible. She arrived wearing a grey coat and waved to journalists before entering the court through one of its main entrances along with her lawyers.
During the incident on August 20, the then head of Spain's RFEF football federation held her head in both hands and forcibly kissed her on the lips after Spain won the World Cup in Australia.
He has said the act was "a consensual peck" but Hermoso has insisted it was not.
She filed a lawsuit against him in September and told the judge she had come under pressure to defend Rubiales, both on the flight back from Australia and on a subsequent team holiday to Ibiza in the Balearic Islands.
"After the event, the situation experienced by the victim, both on the flight back to Spain and during her stay in Ibiza was one of constant harassment by the parties under investigation, which disrupted her normal life, causing her anxiety and distress," the source said, quoting Hermoso's testimony.
Under Spanish law, a non-consensual kiss can be considered sexual assault -- a criminal category that groups all types of sexual violence.
Penalties for such a kiss range from a fine to four years in prison.
The 46-year-old Rubiales, who is subject to a restraining order banning him from being within 200 metres (yards) of Hermoso, is also accused of "coercion" for allegedly pressuring her to justify his actions, which were broadcast live round the world.
The kiss provoked widespread outrage and prompted his suspension by world football governing body FIFA.
Rubiales appeared in court on September 15 and in October.
The judge quizzed three others over allegations they also pressured Hermoso -- former women's coach Jorge Vilda, men's team director Albert Luque and RFEF marketing boss Ruben Rivera.
Numerous other witnesses have testified in court over the pressure faced by Hermoso, among them two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and two other Spanish teammates.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
