Rubiales claims Hermoso consented to kiss amid trial for sexual assault

Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, is on trial for sexual assault and coercion related to his kiss with footballer Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women's World Cup medal ceremony. Rubiales maintains that the kiss was consensual, claiming Hermoso agreed to it, while Hermoso has strongly denied giving consent, stating the encounter was inappropriate and ruined one of the happiest moments of her life. Testimonies from the trial include a lip-reading expert who confirmed Rubiales asked for permission before the kiss, but Hermoso's stance remains that the kiss was not consensual. The case has sparked significant outrage in Spain, leading to protests and demands for accountability in sports culture regarding sexism. The fallout from the incident has included the resignation of several key figures in the Spanish football federation. The trial continues with testimonies from Hermoso's teammates expected to shed light on the broader implications of the incident.