Former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales testifies he asked for consent for World Cup kiss

On Tuesday, former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales stated that he sought permission from Women's World Cup champion Jennifer Hermoso before kissing her during the on-field medal ceremony following Spain's victory in 2023.

While testifying at his sexual assault trial in Madrid, Rubiales claimed that he had asked Hermoso for permission to kiss her before the incident occurred.

Hermoso, 34, has stated that Rubiales did not have her consent to kiss her. Rubiales faces charges of sexual assault and coercion for the kiss in August 2023.

Prosecutors are calling for a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales.

On Tuesday, Rubiales admitted that he got caught up in the moment. “Winning a World Cup is not something that happens every day… I made a mistake and spoke without thinking,” Rubiales told the court.

He explained, “I acted like an athlete who had just achieved success,” adding, “I should have kept my composure and taken a more professional approach.”

Earlier this month, Hermoso, who also testified at the trial, stated that the kiss “ruined one of the happiest days of my life.”

She said, “I knew I was being kissed by my boss, and that should never happen in any work or social setting.”

“Until today, it feels like my life has been on hold. Honestly, I haven't been able to live freely,” Hermoso said.

The kiss, captured on camera during the medal presentation ceremony, quickly went viral on social media.

Protests erupted in several Spanish cities, with demonstrators aiming to raise awareness of the persistent culture of misogyny in both sports and broader Spanish society.

In response, Rubiales, 47, claimed the kiss was "mutual," but Hermoso has consistently rejected this assertion.

On February 3, Hermoso testified that Rubiales had pressured her to make a statement downplaying the incident amid a public backlash against him.

“I told him no, that I wasn’t going to do anything,” Hermoso said. “I told him I was sorry, but I wasn’t going to do it.”

On Tuesday, a lip-reading expert called to testify by Rubiales’ legal team told the court that two video clips of the incident showed Rubiales asking Hermoso: “Can I give you a little kiss?”

The expert said that they were unable to see Hermoso’s reaction as the video showed her from behind.

A second expert witness, also brought in by Rubiales' defense team, testified in court that the video clips had not been manipulated or altered.