Key Points
- Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso has testified in court against Spain's former football boss Luis Rubiales.
- Hermoso was kissed by Rubiales following Spain's victory at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final in Sydney.
- Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual and Rubiales later resigned amid mounting pressure, protests and boycotts.
This article contains references to sexual assault.
Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso has testified in court over Luis Rubiales after Spain's victory in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Hermoso, who is the record scorer for Spain's women's team, said the kiss was not consensual.
She spent around two and a half hours speaking behind closed doors to investigating judge Francisco de Jorge, who is examining evidence including television footage before deciding whether to approve charges and advance the case to trial.
"All is in the hands of justice, that's all I can say," Hermoso told reporters as she left court.
"The process will take its course."
When did Luis Rubiales kiss Jenni Hermoso?
During the medal-giving ceremony, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the lips.
In a on 25 August, Hermoso said she did not want to be kissed, and that she felt "vulnerable and a victim of an aggression".
During the final match, Rubiales also grabbed his crotch while standing close to Spain's Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter during the final match.
Rubiales has denied wrongdoing and claimed the kiss was consensual.
What happened after Rubiales kissed Hermoso?
The incident sparked outrage across the football world and ignited one of the worst crises in the sport's history in Spain.
It led to a boycott of the national team by World Cup-winning players and staff, calls for Rubiales to be stood down, and sparked protests likened to the 'Me Too' movement.
The European Players' Union and Spain's Women's League both backed Hermoso.
Leading officials within the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) asked Rubiales to resign, but he initially refused.
Hermoso filed a criminal complaint against Rubiales on 6 September.
Rubiales eventually resigned as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation on 10 September, saying his position had become "untenable".
He was later for three years by football's governing body FIFA.
What happened in court?
Hermoso's testimony was behind closed doors in court.
She was expected to reiterate 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.
Spanish state prosecutors accused Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion.
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 Hermoso.
Based on a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty.
The new law eliminated the difference between "sexual harassment" and "sexual assault," sanctioning any unconsented sexual act.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
