The footballer kissed last summer by the former head of the Spanish Federation, heard in court. What Jenni Hermoso said in court

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Jenni Hermoso was heard by the liaison judge at the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid. Originally scheduled for November 28, the long-awaited hearing has been postponed due to scheduling issues until today, January 2. “Everything is now in the hands of justice, that’s all I can say,” the player told reporters as she left the courtroom, laconically stating that “everything went well,” without further details news.ro.

But Spanish media reported that the footballer also claimed in the judge’s office that the kiss was “never consensual”. She said she was the victim of “harassment” from Rubiales and his entourage after winning the world title in Sydney, which “affected her life, creating a situation of anxiety and sadness”.

How Rubiales defended himself

Jenni Hermoso was kissed by the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, on August 20, 2023, at the award ceremony after the women’s world title won by Spain after the final against England (1-0).

Days after the incident, Rubiales defended himself by saying it was “a show of affection”, that he had obtained the player’s permission before kissing her and that it was the footballer who took him in her arms. “It was Jenni who picked me up. I said, ‘A kiss?’ and she said, ‘OK,'” the former Spanish football boss claimed. But the woman denied this.

The woman filed a complaint against Luis Rubiales in September. Charged with sexual assault and the crime of coercion for allegedly pressuring the player, the man was barred from approaching within 200 yards of Jennifer Hermoso.

Rubiales resigned on September 10. He was suspended for three years from all football-related activities by FIFA, a decision he will appeal.