MADRID — Teammates of Jenni Hermoso reiterated her feelings of distress and anger regarding the kiss she received from former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales during his ongoing sexual assault trial on Thursday.

Rubiales, who has not yet taken the stand in the trial taking place in Madrid, has previously maintained that Hermoso consented to the kiss that occurred during the awards ceremony following Spain’s victory in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final in Sydney.
During her testimony, Hermoso stated that the kiss was not solicited and disclosed that she faced persistent pressure from Rubiales and his associates to alter her account of events.
Teammate Alexia Putellas recounted how Hermoso was visibly emotional during the return flight to Spain after the triumph in Australia. She described how Rubiales allegedly pressured Hermoso to record a video with him in order to counteract the backlash he faced for kissing her unexpectedly on a global stage.
“She expressed how (Rubiales) kept insisting on sharing his version of events and wanted her to publicly state that she had consented to the kiss, even suggesting it would be for the sake of his daughters,” Putellas testified. “Hermoso was furious and asserted that she was well aware of what occurred, refusing to be part of any video with him and demanding he leaves her be.”
Putellas, a two-time world player of the year, provided her testimony via video connection from a courthouse in Barcelona, joining Irene Paredes who also testified.
Paredes noted that she recognized the seriousness of the situation when teammates began to joke about the kiss in the locker room amidst their celebration. She emphasized that Hermoso became increasingly agitated as federation officials pressured her to act protectively towards Rubiales amid the growing outcry from the media, politicians, and sports figures.
“Jenni was anxious and distressed,” Paredes recounted. “She broke down in tears while explaining the extent of her discomfort, especially since all she wanted was to celebrate our achievement.”
Their testimonies aligned with earlier accounts from goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez and Hermoso’s brother, which were shared on Wednesday.
Prosecutors, alongside Hermoso and the Spain players’ association, are pursuing a prison sentence of two and a half years for Rubiales, a fine of 50,000 euros (equivalent to approximately $51,800) for damages, and a ban from any future roles as a sports official.
Rubiales, 47, attempted to retain his position but resigned three weeks later and has since been suspended by FIFA for three years. He claimed to be a victim of a “witch hunt” orchestrated by “false feminists.”
In addition to Rubiales, three other federation officials, including former coach Jorge Vilda, are also facing trial for allegedly coercing Hermoso into supporting Rubiales’ narrative. These officials, who have yet to testify, deny any wrongdoing and could face a year and a half in prison if found guilty.