During the fourth session of the trial against former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales, three of Jenni Hermoso’s teammates testified about the emotional toll the unsolicited kiss took on the footballer after Spain’s victory at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The incident, which occurred during the awards ceremony in Australia, sparked a national outcry over sexism in sports and led to Rubiales facing charges of sexual assault and coercion.
Alexia Putellas (2021 and 2022 Ballon d’Or winner), Irene Paredes (Barcelona captain), and Laia Codina (Arsenal defender) appeared in court on Thursday to recount how the kiss overshadowed Hermoso’s joy at winning the World Cup. They described her as overwhelmed, crying, and exhausted in the hours and days following the incident.
Irene Paredes’ Testimony
Paredes, who was the first to recognize the seriousness of the situation, testified that the team initially tried to downplay the incident on the bus ride to Sydney Airport after the final. However, she recalled how Hermoso sought her teammates’ opinions in the locker room, visibly upset and crying. “Jenni was worried, she was upset. I saw her cry as she told us this, because it was an issue that was weighing on her, and what she wanted was to celebrate the triumph we had just achieved,” Paredes said.
Alexia Putellas’ Testimony
Putellas, Hermoso’s teammate at Barcelona, described how Hermoso’s initial shock turned into anger and emotional exhaustion. On the flight back to Spain and during a celebratory trip to Ibiza, Hermoso became increasingly overwhelmed. “On the plane, she was already very overwhelmed and telling us that they wouldn’t leave her alone, they wouldn’t stop,” Putellas said. She also recounted seeing Hermoso cry from exhaustion on the plane and in Ibiza, to the point where Hermoso considered leaving the trip early.
Laia Codina’s Testimony
While Codina’s testimony was not detailed in the reports, she joined her teammates in supporting Hermoso’s account of the emotional distress caused by the incident and the subsequent pressure to downplay it.
Rubiales’ Charges
Rubiales, 47, is accused of sexual assault for the unsolicited kiss and coercion for allegedly attempting to pressure Hermoso into publicly stating that the kiss was consensual. Three other former Spanish football federation officials are also on trial for their alleged roles in the coercion.
Trial Timeline
Judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto indicated that if the trial proceeds as scheduled, Rubiales and the other defendants will take the stand on February 11, with the trial expected to conclude on February 12.
The case has become a landmark moment in the fight against sexism in sports, highlighting the need for accountability and respect for women athletes. Hermoso’s teammates’ testimonies underscore the profound impact the incident had on her, turning what should have been a celebratory moment into a period of emotional turmoil.