Teammates Stand with Hermoso: Emotional Testimony at Rubiales Trial

In a Madrid court, teammates of Jenni Hermoso provided emotional testimonies about her feelings of being overwhelmed and coerced after a non-consensual kiss by Luis Rubiales. The trial, which includes charges of sexual assault and coercion against Rubiales, highlights the serious impacts on Hermoso and her teammates.

In a significant courtroom event, several Spanish football players have expressed their solidarity with Jenni Hermoso, who is at the center of a high-profile trial against former football chief Luis Rubiales. During the proceedings in Madrid, teammates Irene Paredes, Laia Codina, and Alexia Putellas shared their accounts of Hermoso's emotional state following an alleged forcible kiss from Rubiales during the medal ceremony of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia.

Putellas, a star player for Barcelona, testified that Hermoso was "overwhelmed" by the incident, while Codina noted that Hermoso was "sad" and not enjoying what was supposed to be a celebratory moment. The unresolved tension led to social media outrage and calls for Rubiales’ resignation after the event.

In the courtroom, Hermoso highlighted that she had never consented to the kiss, stating, “I felt disrespected as a woman.” Putellas recounted an incident on the team's flight back to Spain, where Hermoso became visibly upset, crying from exhaustion, and disputing Rubiales' attempts to pressure her into downplaying the incident's seriousness.

Paredes recounted how she attempted to steer the conversation away from jokes about the kiss, emphasizing the gravity of the situation to her teammates. Codina remarked that during their celebratory trip to Ibiza, Hermoso was still struggling emotionally and did not appear to enjoy the moment despite it being a high point in her career.

Additionally, Tesimonies surfaced regarding Rubiales' associates, including coach Jorge Vilda, who is also facing charges of coercion. Allegations surfaced that Vilda had urged Hermoso's brother to manipulate her perception of the kiss and apply pressure on her to claim it was consensual.

Rubiales faces serious charges, with prosecutors seeking a one-year prison sentence for sexual assault and an additional 1.5 years for coercion. He continues to deny the allegations, asserting that the kiss was consensual. The trial is ongoing and highlights issues related to consent and the treatment of female athletes in sports.