EPAThe teammates of Spanish footballer Jenny Hermoso have testified in support of her story that they feel overworked after claiming to be forcibly kissed by former Spain football chief Luis Rubiales.
Her teammates Irene Parens, Loya Codina and Alexia Publas appeared in the trial of G -n Rubiales at the Madrid National Court on Thursday, where he was accused of sexual assault and coercion.
Putellas said that d -hermosa felt “overloaded” after the incident, while d -i codina said she was “sad” and “does not enjoy herself”.
Rubiales kissed d -Jia Hermos on the lips during the FIFA World Cup ceremony in 2023 in Australia, provoking protests and calling for his resignation. He denies any misconduct.
Jenny Hermoso told the court on Monday That she had never granted permission to be kissed at the World Cup medal ceremony and felt “disrespect” as a woman.
D -Ja Putellas said she thought the incident was “happy” and “misunderstanding” at the time, but that she later showed her video and said she didn't know how it happened to Rubiales to kiss her, according to local local Spanish media.
The court listened to Parens that while on the bus to Sydney airport after the World Cup final, she told her teammates to stop joking about the incident, saying she was “serious”.
D -Ja Putellas said that d -ha Hermoso is “buried” on the plane back in Spain.
“She started crying out of exhaustion,” the Barcelona player added.
The 31-year-old said Mrs. Hermoso was asked to talk to Mr. Rubiales on the plane and told her that she should “come out” and “deny that there is no agreement in the kiss.
“She was angry and she said she did not need to explain the facts to her because she had experienced him, that she would not do it,” said G -ja Putellas.
D -Ja Codina said to the test that during the team holiday to the Spanish island of Ibiza, d -hermos is “sad, she did not rejoice, far from him” although this “was supposed to be the best time of life her.
Three colleagues from Mr. Rubiales have also been sued, accused of conscientious coercion: Jorge Vilda, World Cup coach, winning country, Ruben Rivera, former Federation Marketing and former Sports Director Albert Luke. They all deny the fees.
On Wednesday, the court listened that G -n Vilda was talking to Rafael Hermoso, Jenny Hermoso's brother – in the flight back to Spain, telling him that Rubiales was afraid of his position, according to local Spanish media.
G -N Vilda asked him to talk to his sister about making a video with G -Ja Rubiales, which would downplay the kiss.
The coach warned that his sister could face “professional and personal consequences” if he did not cooperate, said Rafael Hermoso.
Turning to court on Monday, Mrs. Hermoso stated that she and the then president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation hugged and celebrated at the football event, saying that she then grabbed her “for ears and kissing me on my mouth” S
“I didn't hear or understand anything,” she said, adding that “a kiss on the lips is given only when I decide so.”
The footballer said he felt “completely abandoned by the federation”.
Prosecutors call on Mr. Rubiales to receive a one-year sentence for a sexual assault for a kiss. They also call for him to be sentenced to a year and a half for coercion, claiming that he is trying to put pressure on Mrs. Hermoso to publicly say that the kiss is consensus. Rubiales denies fees.
The test continues.