Teammates Testify on Emotional Impact of Controversial World Cup Kiss

In a Madrid trial, Jenni Hermoso’s teammates, including Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes, testified about her emotional turmoil after a controversial kiss by Luis Rubiales at the World Cup, highlighting feelings of overwhelm and coercion as the case unfolds.

In a gripping session at Madrid's National Court, testimonies from Spanish footballers regarding the emotionally charged incident involving Jenni Hermoso emerged. Teammates Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes supported Hermoso’s claims following an alleged forced kiss by Luis Rubiales, former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The court heard that Hermoso felt "overwhelmed" and "disrespected" after the incident, which occurred during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup medal ceremony in Australia.

Putellas stated that Hermoso was visibly distressed on the return flight, revealing that she began to cry from exhaustion. “She started crying from exhaustion,” Putellas remarked, capturing the toll the incident took on the athlete and the celebration that should have marked a pinnacle in her career. During the bus ride to Sydney airport post-final, Paredes recounted, she urged teammates to cease joking about what transpired, asserting the serious nature of the event.

Hermoso's ordeal intensified as she stated in court that Rubiales asked her to publicly deny the lack of consent related to the kiss, an allegation that struck at the core of both her dignity and professional integrity. “There was no need for him to explain the facts to her because she had experienced it,” Putellas explained, mentioning Hermoso’s anger and refusal to comply with Rubiales’ perceived coercion.

As the trial continues, three of Rubiales’ associates, including coach Jorge Vilda, face charges of complicity in the alleged coercion. They are accused of pressuring Hermoso regarding her public statements about the kiss. Rafael Hermoso, Jenni's brother, testified that Vilda warned him about potential "professional and personal consequences" for his sister if she did not cooperate.

The current proceedings have sparked considerable public discourse, with prosecutors calling for a one-year prison sentence for Rubiales for sexual assault, and an additional year-and-a-half for coercion. Rubiales steadfastly denies the charges, claiming that the kiss was consensual, while the spotlight remains on the emotional repercussions faced by Hermoso and her team. The trial is still in motion, poised to unveil further details surrounding this contentious situation.