Spain men's coach Luis de la Fuente testified in the Luis Rubiales trial that he did not engage in discussions related to Jenni Hermoso following her World Cup kiss from the former Spanish soccer boss. Rubiales faces accusations of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso at the 2023 Women's World Cup final presentation ceremony in Sydney and coercion for allegedly trying to persuade the player to support his version of the kiss. Hermoso maintains that she did not consent to the kiss, while Rubiales claims it was consensual.
De la Fuente stated in court that he only spoke with Hermoso about two months ago at a gala and did not discuss the kiss or alleged attempts to support Rubiales with Spanish federation officials. Rubiales, along with three other former federation officials, is accused of pressuring Hermoso to publicly defend him in a statement after the incident, which she declined to do.
During his court appearance, De la Fuente clarified that his discussions at the federation following the scandal were solely focused on football matters and his role as the men's national coach. He recently had his contract extended to 2028.
Former federation press chief Pablo García Cuervo testified that he drafted some of Hermoso's comments for media release but clarified that she declined to do a video with the comments. Hermoso testified on the trial's first day, expressing feeling disrespected by Rubiales and stating that the kiss marred one of the happiest days of her life.
The incident sparked a national conversation in Spain about sexism in sports and society. Rubiales, who has denied the charges, resigned under pressure and received a three-year ban from FIFA. Prosecutors, Hermoso, and the Spain players’ association are seeking jail time, fines, and bans for the defendants.
The trial will continue for at least 10 days, with Rubiales expected to testify. The first day saw Rubiales in attendance.
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