Spanish footballer Gheni Hermoso has testified in court about the kiss she claimed former FIFA president Luis Rubiales gave her without her consent after Spain won the Women's World Cup last summer.
Hermoso spoke in a Madrid court behind closed doors before a judge, who examines evidence including television footage before deciding whether to approve the charges and send the case to trial.
Judge Francisco de Jorge will also hear evidence from World Cup-winning players, coaches and federation officials before making the decision.
“Everything is in the hands of justice, that's all I can say,” Hermoso said as she left court. “The process will take its course.”
Based on a sexual consent law passed last year — which blurs the distinction between sexual harassment and assault — Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of between one and four years if found guilty, according to the Madrid public prosecutor's office.
The 33-year-old Spanish striker filed a criminal complaint for sexual assault and coercion last September due to a kiss that occurred while the players were receiving their medals after the match. Winning over England 1-0 In the final in Sydney.
The repercussions of the accident led to Boycott of Spanish players From the women's and men's national teams.
This case shook the world of sports and sparked protests in Spain and abroad demanding “a sport free of sexual violence.”
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Hundreds participate in the FA protest in Madrid
Rubiales eventually resigned as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on September 10 and was subsequently appointed He is prohibited from practicing all football-related activities For three years until after the 2026 Men's World Cup.
Technical Director of the Spanish Women's National Football Team, Jorge Veldawas also fired after the incident.
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Hermoso repeatedly said the kiss was not consensual and that she felt “weak and a victim of aggression.”
Rubiales, 46, has always denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the player agreed to the “click”.
After his resignation, former President And return the kiss to “great joy.” Without a “sexual connotation,” she added that the act was “normal in our country.”
He said that if the Spanish men's team had won the cup – “there was no doubt about it” – he would have accepted them too.
