The Luis Rubiales “Unsolicited Kiss of Death”
Madrid, Feb 7 (EFE).– By Miriam Mejías
Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso’s steadfast testimony has defined the first week of the trial against former football federation president Luis Rubiales over the unsolicited kiss he planted on her after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
The proceedings have also been marked by the judge’s unexpectedly sharp interventions, stirring courtroom tension and sparking buzz on social media.
The trial has brought a steady stream of testimonies from players, family members, and football officials before Spain’s National Court. Their accounts have revisited the controversy that led to Rubiales’ departure from the federation amid public outcry, not only the kiss itself but also the alleged pressures to downplay the incident in its aftermath.
One by one, witnesses have pieced together the events that followed Spain’s historic World Cup victory, an achievement that Hermoso says was “stained” by the controversy.
Meanwhile, Rubiales, seated beside his lawyer and exchanging quiet remarks, awaits his turn to defend himself next week against charges of sexual assault and coercion.
The key moments from the first week of the trial, which also involves coach Jorge Vilda and former federation executives Albert Luque and Rubén Rivera:
“I Didn’t Approve It” – Hermoso’s Defiant Testimony
For over two hours, Hermoso took the stand, delivering a resolute account of the events: the kiss, the “countless” pleas for her to say she had consented, and the overwhelming sense of isolation she felt from the federation.
“I didn’t approve it,” she said about the kiss Rubiales gave her while grabbing her head. She insisted she hadn’t signaled for it and wouldn’t have accepted it even if she had seen it coming.
“I knew my boss was kissing me, and this should not happen in any work or social setting,” she saod, as Rubiales shook his head in apparent disagreement.
She also pushed back against the idea of the “good victim,” countering suggestions that her initial reaction invalidated her discomfort.
“My attitude, however I may be, doesn’t change what I felt. I don’t need to be crying in a room or lying on the floor for people to understand that I didn’t like it.”
Her brother, questioned by the defense, admitted he had initially downplayed the incident to “protect” her and to keep the focus on Spain’s victory rather than the controversy.
A Judge Losing Patience
Presiding Judge José Manuel Fernández-Prieto, known for his low profile, has become an unexpected protagonist in the trial.
His sharp interruptions—particularly directed at prosecutor Marta Durántez and certain witnesses—have ignited discussion both inside and outside the courtroom.
It was his no-nonsense style that surfaced multiple times.
When Spain coach Luis de la Fuente tried to veer off-topic, the judge reminded him, “One does not choose what to talk about. One answers what is asked.”
When former federation communications chief Pablo García Cuervo appeared evasive, the judge, after banging on the table, demanded, “I want clear answers, not arrogance.”
Even the prosecutor faced his frustration when she attempted to challenge contradictory statements. His firm “file a complaint” response made it clear that certain witnesses were not on trial.
Social media has latched onto his repeated “let’s move on” as he tries to maintain control of the proceedings.
Testimonies of Pressure and Manipulation
Several witnesses, including players Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, Misa Rodríguez, and Laia Codina, supported Hermoso’s claims that she was pressured to back Rubiales.
Putellas described her teammate as “sad” and emotionally distant in the days following the incident. “She wasn’t there. She wasn’t Jenni,” she said.
However, not all testimonies aligned.
Putellas recalled that someone on the flight back from Australia urged Hermoso to speak with Rubiales but did not specify who. José María Timón, Rubiales’ chief of staff, denied witnessing any such exchange.
De la Fuente said he was asleep on the flight, unaware of any tension, while Ana Álvarez, the federation’s director of women’s football, testified that she had observed significant unease among those on board.
Hermoso’s brother recounted a conversation in which coach Jorge Vilda approached him on the plane, warning that the controversy could have “consequences” for his sister, who “didn’t have much football left.”
A close friend of Hermoso, who accompanied her to Ibiza, said he was contacted by Albert Luque, who allegedly offered job security in exchange for downplaying the situation. “It felt like selling my soul to the devil,” he recalled.
Conversely, García Cuervo, the former communications executive, accused Hermoso of contradictions, blaming her for his dismissal. He claimed she had approved a statement minimizing the kiss, though he admitted he never asked her to confirm it again for fear she might change her mind.
The ‘Crisis Cabinet’ of August 23
A contentious meeting held three days after the incident in Rubiales’ office—often referred to as the “crisis cabinet”—has emerged as another focal point of the trial.
Patricia Pérez, the press officer for the women’s national team, described it as a “trap,” orchestrated to persuade Hermoso to alter her account. She alleged that Rubiales had sought changes to an internal federation report that ultimately exonerated him.
De la Fuente denied involvement, claiming he had met with Rubiales that day in an adjacent room only to discuss football. His version, however, drew skepticism from the prosecutor, who warned of “false testimony”—a matter that will be reviewed at the trial’s conclusion.
Verdict Still Unwritten
As the trial progresses, Rubiales and his co-defendants prepare to present their defense next week. The testimonies so far have painted a picture of division, some backing Hermoso’s claims of coercion, others casting doubt.
What remains clear is that this case extends far beyond a single kiss. It has become a referendum on power, accountability, and the culture of Spanish football. EFE
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