Former head of the Spanish Soccer Federation, Luis Rubiales, testified on Tuesday in a Madrid court concerning a controversial kiss he gave to player Jennifer Hermoso during the medal presentation of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Rubiales, who stepped down following the incident, claims the kiss was a harmless display of affection amid celebratory joy.
Testifying under the charges of sexual assault and coercion, Rubiales maintained that he had sought permission before kissing Hermoso, labeling it a mere “peck.” “You don’t win a World Cup every day,” he remarked, justifying the emotional context of the moment. He also asserted that he had kissed other players in the past without objection.
Contrarily, Hermoso firmly stated that she did not consent to the kiss, expressing her discomfort during her testimony by recalling a feeling of shock. "I couldn’t react — it was a thousandth of a second," she commented, underlining the inappropriate nature of the encounter given their hierarchical relationship, with Rubiales serving as her superior in the national team structure.
This incident sparked widespread discussion on gender roles and consent in a sport historically marred by machismo culture. The fallout from Rubiales' actions has acted as a catalyst for ongoing debates regarding the treatment of women in sports, highlighting the discrepancies between traditional views of masculinity and the push for more equitable practices within the soccer community. The trial continues to serve as a litmus test for progress in attitudes toward consent and gender equality in sports and beyond.
