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Trial of Luis Rubiales: Teammates Support Jenni Hermoso’s Testimony
In a pivotal court session on Thursday, Spanish football stars Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes lent their voices to the ongoing case against former football chief Luis Rubiales. This follows allegations stemming from an incident where Rubiales allegedly kissed player Jenni Hermoso without consent during the medal ceremony of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia.
The testimonies unfolded at the National Court in Madrid, where Rubiales is facing charges of sexual assault and coercion. Paredes, Putellas, and fellow teammate Laia Codina detailed their observations regarding Hermoso’s emotional state following the alleged incident.
Putellas expressed that Hermoso felt “overwhelmed” after the kiss, while Codina described Hermoso as being “sad” and “not enjoying herself” despite the celebratory atmosphere surrounding their achievement.
Rubiales maintains that he acted appropriately and denies any wrongdoing. The controversy ignited widespread protests and demands for his resignation, particularly after the moment in question received extensive media coverage.
Earlier in the week, Hermoso herself testified that she had not consented to the kiss, and felt “disrespected” as a woman. Putellas reflected on how she initially perceived the incident as a misunderstanding but later recognized its severity after Hermoso shared video evidence of what transpired.
During her testimony, Paredes recounted an incident on the team bus heading to Sydney airport where she admonished teammates to stop making light of the situation, emphasizing its seriousness. Putellas noted that on their return flight to Spain, Hermoso showed signs of distress, breaking down from exhaustion.
She described a moment when Hermoso was encouraged to speak to Rubiales and asked to deny that the kiss lacked consent, to which Hermoso reportedly expressed her anger, asserting that she would not participate in such a narrative.
Codina reinforced the sentiment that Hermoso was not able to enjoy their subsequent celebration trip to Ibiza, a time that should have marked one of the happiest moments of her life.
Coercion Allegations Surrounding Rubiales
Alongside Rubiales, three former colleagues are also facing trial for alleged complicity in the coercion: Jorge Vilda, the coach of the victorious World Cup team, Rubén Rivera, previous head of marketing for the federation, and Albert Luque, a former sporting director. All have denied the accusations against them.
Testimonies revealed that during the flight back to Spain, Vilda spoke with Hermoso’s brother, Rafael, indicating Rubiales’ concerns about his position and requesting him to persuade his sister to issue a video that would mitigate the impact of the kiss incident. Rafael Hermoso testified that Vilda warned about potential “professional and personal consequences” if she did not comply.
In her previous statements, Hermoso vividly recounted the moment leading up to the kiss, explaining that she felt trapped and that consent was never given for such an act. The gravity of her feelings was underscored by her assertion that she felt “completely abandoned by the federation” after the incident.
Prosecutors are seeking a one-year prison sentence for Rubiales on the grounds of sexual assault and an additional 18 months for coercion, citing efforts to compel Hermoso into falsely stating that the interaction was consensual. Rubiales has refuted all allegations against him.
The trial is set to continue as the court delves deeper into the testimonies and evidence presented.
Source
www.bbc.com