Spanish Prosecutor Asserts ‘No Doubt’ That Luis Rubiales’ Kiss Was ‘Non-Consensual’ During Trial

On Wednesday, Spanish public prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil stated during the trial of former football president Luis Rubiales (47) that there was “no doubt” the kiss he gave to Jenni Hermoso (34) in 2023 was “non-consensual”.

Rubiales was compelled to resign in disgrace in 2023 after he kissed Hermoso following Spain’s victory at the Women’s World Cup held in Australia that year.

The incident ignited widespread outrage and highlighted the ongoing issues of macho culture and sexism within sport and society at large.

Prosecutors are aiming for a sentence of two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, consisting of one year for sexual assault related to the forced kiss and a further 18 months for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to minimise the incident.

While Hermoso maintains that she did not consent to the kiss, Rubiales denies any wrongdoing, asserting that the kiss was mutual.

“It was an unwanted kiss: I believe that after the examination carried out during the trial, there is no doubt or at least not enough reasonable doubt,” Gil informed the court, reiterating her request for sentencing against Rubiales.

Gil noted there was no prior “animosity” between Hermoso and Rubiales that could have influenced her truthfulness regarding what occurred at the time of the kiss, emphasising the “total consistency” between her statements and her immediate and later reactions.

Alongside Rubiales, former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda and two ex-federation officials face similar accusations. They are also alleged to have attempted to pressure Hermoso, with prosecutors seeking 18-month jail sentences for each of them.

In a statement to Spain’s National Court on Tuesday, Rubiales expressed he was “totally sure” Hermoso consented to the kiss during the medal ceremony post-final.

“She squeezed me very tightly under my armpits, lifted me up, and when I came down, I asked her if I could give her a kiss, and she said ‘OK’, that’s how it happened,” he recounted.

While Rubiales acknowledged he “made a mistake” on the podium and admitted that his behaviour was “not appropriate”, he maintained that no crime had occurred.

Hermoso shared on the first day of the trial that she felt “disrespected” due to the non-consensual kiss, asserting that such actions “should not occur in any social or professional environment”.

After transferring to another Mexican club, Tigres, in 2024, Hermoso has continued to represent Spain, although the controversy has overshadowed the team’s World Cup triumph.

The high-profile trial, which commenced at Spain’s National Court in San Fernando de Henares, near Madrid, on February 3, is anticipated to conclude on Thursday.