In brief
Trial details a significant moment in Spain's #MeToo movement as Hermoso asserts the kiss ruined her joyous World Cup victory.
Luis Rubiales, the ex-president of the Spanish soccer federation, has begun his trial in Madrid over allegations of sexual assault and coercion stemming from an incident in August 2023. The case centers on the now-infamous kiss he planted on Jennifer Hermoso during the celebration of Spain's Women's World Cup win. Hermoso, speaking at the trial, revealed that the kiss destroyed one of the happiest moments of her life, feeling utterly disrespected.The incident garnered national outrage, sparking discussions on sexism in Spanish soccer and became a pivotal moment in Spain’s #MeToo landscape. As she testified on Monday, Ms. Hermoso, 34, described the panic she felt during and after the shocking kiss by Rubiales, stating, “I didn’t look for that act, nor did I expect it.” She recounted feeling compelled by Rubiales and other soccer officials to publicly support him, following intense media scrutiny.Rubiales, aged 47, could face up to two and a half years in prison if convicted. He, along with three other former officials—including 2023 World Cup coach Jorge Vilda—faces charges of coercion, with potential prison time of 18 months each. Hermoso has consistently maintained that the encounter was non-consensual, whereas Rubiales has refuted her claims, firmly denying that the kiss warranted any allegations of misconduct. “I couldn’t react — it was a thousandth of a second,” she said during her emotional testimony, underscoring the abrupt nature of the event that has since provoked a national reckoning on consent and respect in sports culture.
