Jenni Hermoso has instructed the trial of former Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales that the kiss he gave her on the 2023 World Cup “stained one of many happiest days of my life”.
Rubiales, the previous president of Spain’s soccer federation, went on trial in Madrid on Monday over the kiss, accused of sexual assault and coercion.
Showing because the trial’s first witness, Hermoso mentioned: “My boss was kissing me, and this should not occur in any social or work setting.”
Rubiales sparked main controversy when he kissed the athlete on the lips whereas the gamers obtained their World Cup medals in Australia, triggering protests and requires his resignation.
Hermoso instructed the court docket that she had by no means given permission to be kissed.
“I did not hear or perceive something,” she mentioned.
“The subsequent factor he did was to seize me by the ears and kiss me on the mouth.”
She went on: “A kiss on the lips is barely given once I resolve so”.
Prosecutors are calling for Rubiales, 47, to obtain a one-year jail sentence for sexual assault.
They’re additionally calling for him to be given a sentence of a year-and-a-half for coercion, for allegedly making an attempt to strain Hermoso into saying publicly that the kiss was consensual.
Rubiales denies the fees.
On the time, Rubiales mentioned the kiss had been consensual and denounced a so-called witch-hunt by “pretend feminism,” earlier than resigning from his place.
Three of his former colleagues are additionally on trial accused of coercing Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.
Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning facet, Rubén Rivera, the federation’s former head of promoting, and former sporting director, Albert Luque all deny the fees.
The trial runs till 19 February.