MADRID — The head coach of Spain’s women’s soccer team, Montse Tomé, appeared before a judge on Monday, clarifying her decision to exclude player Jenni Hermoso from the national squad in light of the controversial kiss between Hermoso and former soccer federation president Luis Rubiales. Tomé emphasized that her choice was not intended as a form of punishment for Hermoso amid the ongoing legal issues stemming from the incident.
In the aftermath of the 2023 Women’s World Cup final celebration, Rubiales has been accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso without her consent, along with charges of coercion for allegedly attempting to persuade Hermoso to bolster his defense regarding the act. Hermoso firmly maintains that the kiss was non-consensual, while Rubiales counters that their encounter was consensual. Additionally, three former officials of the soccer federation are facing trial related to allegations of coercion for pressuring Hermoso to minimize the significance of the kiss.
Last week, Hermoso’s brother testified that Jorge Vilda, the former coach of the national team and one of those accused of coercion, allegedly threatened Hermoso by suggesting that her future with the team could be jeopardized if she declined to participate in a video aimed at downplaying the incident with Rubiales.
Tomé, who transitioned from an assistant role under Vilda to head coach shortly after the World Cup, had opted not to call up Hermoso for her initial squad selection. She explained that the decision was made in an effort to shield the player from the intense media scrutiny surrounding the case. During her testimony at the trial, Tomé reiterated that her intention was not punitive, stressing that her reasoning was grounded in sports considerations.
“I did not include her in the first call-up because of sporting reasons. The reasons I presented regarding her protection were also tied to sporting factors,” Tomé stated. She further highlighted that the heightened media focus on the case could potentially hinder Hermoso’s on-field performance. “Everything affects the sporting performance,” she added, underlining the impact of external circumstances on athletes.
The ongoing trial also includes former federation officials Albert Luque, the ex-sports director for Spain’s men’s team, and Ruben Rivera, the former head of marketing, both facing charges of coercion. Rubiales is set to take the stand on Tuesday. After facing mounting pressure to resign, he stepped down three weeks after the allegations came to light and was subsequently suspended from participating in soccer for three years by FIFA. Rubiales has described the backlash as a “witch hunt” perpetrated by “false feminists.”
On the first day of the trial last week, Hermoso shared her feelings of being “disrespected” by Rubiales following the Women’s World Cup final, stating that the kiss sullied what should have been one of the most joyous moments of her life. The incident has sparked considerable outrage in Spain, shedding light on the issues of sexism in sports and beyond.
Prosecutors, alongside Hermoso and the players’ association, are seeking a two and a half-year prison sentence for Rubiales and a fine of €50,000 (approximately $51,800) for damages, as well as a ban from any future involvement as a sports official. They aim for the remaining three defendants to receive one and a half years in prison each.
