Spanish former Chadaca boss Luis Rubiales is being tried for forced kiss at the World Cup

Jennifer Hermoso, Spanish football star that was forced kiss Luis Rubiales, a former football official of her country, testified that his trial was open on Monday that he “ruined one of the happiest days of my life” – the victory of her team in the 2023 Women’s Cup.

Mrs. Hermoso described your horror on an unexpected kiss from Mr. Rubiales, who is charged with sexual abuse and coercion. She also testified to the distress she felt after Mr. Rubiales and other Spanish football leaders led what she called the intense campaign to publicly support him after the kiss set on fire and Social Media Storm.

“I felt dishonest,” said Mrs. Hermoso, for 34 years, in a television testimony at the trial outside Madrid, adding: “I did not ask for the act, nor did I expect that.”

Kiss launched a national scandal, deepened Discussions about long -standing sexism in Spanish football And he became a picture in the Spanish movement #metoo. Now, less than a year and a half later, Mr. Rubiales is one of four former Spanish football officials at trial.

Mr. Rubiales, 47, faced two and a half years in prison if he was convicted. The other three men, involving Jorge Vilda, Coach of the 2023 World Cup teamThey are charged with coercion. Each could face 18 months.

Mrs. Hermoso said for a long time that the kiss was not agreeable, which Mr. Rubiales challenged.

“I couldn’t respond – it was a thousand seconds,” she testified.

Mr. Rubiales threatened to send people to talk to their family, testified and begged to make a video. She spoke io what she considered to be a potential punishment for her rejection: a month after the kiss, she was briefly left a list of national teams.

“I refused to do something my boss wanted to do,” she said, adding that she had received death threats. “I was afraid to go out on the street in case someone was chasing me.”

But during the medal ceremony after the finals, Mr. Rubiales grabbed and kissed Mrs. Hermoso – the scorer of the national team record – on the lips. IN Video shot after the matchShe said, “I didn’t like it!”

The public reaction was fast and angry.

For many, a kiss was a reminder of repeated scandals with sexism that broke through Spanish football. Some invited Mr. Rubial to resign. Irene Montero, who was a Spanish Minister of Equality and now a member of the European Parliament, described a kiss as “sexual violence” Post on social media.

Was initially offered by Mr. Rubiales smaller apology And they resisted the calls to resign. The Spanish Football Federation posted a statement that quoted Mrs. Hermoso, calling it “a completely spontaneous mutual gesture.”

But at a trial on Monday, Mrs. Hermoso said she had never approved a statement, adding that she immediately knew that the act was not normal. “The boss loved me,” she said. “That shouldn’t happen.”

After the kiss, dozens of Spanish football players said they would refuse to play for your country Until the “current managers” stepped down, which many saw as a reference to Mr. Rubian and Mr. Vilda.

Mrs. Hermoso endured a Criminal report sexual attack against Mr. Rubiales. “At no point, I agreed to the kiss he gave me,” she said.

As Public pressure mountedMr. Rubiales’ support went through. FIFA, a football global management body, suspended him and later prohibited him from sports for three years. Mr. Vilda has been discharged. Less than a month after a kiss, Mr. Rubiales resigned as president Spanish Football Federation, and also as Vice President of UEFA, a management body of European football.

Mr. Rubiales was also briefly arrested last year In a broad investigation, the allegations of corruption and washing money while running football in Spain. They Investigations continueAlthough charges were not filed against him. He has rejected injustice.

Mr. Rubiales may not face prison, even if he is convicted. In Spain, if one without a criminal complaint is sentenced to two or less, they usually do not go to prison.

Mrs. Hermoso, however, described the kiss and reaction of the public as a lasting trauma. “My life was on standby,” she said. “And, honestly, I failed to live freely.”

Aritz Parra and Nader Ibrahim contribute to the research.