Spanish footballer Jenny Hermoso testified in the trial of former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales, stating that the kiss he gave her following the 2023 World Cup final “tainted one of the happiest days” of her life.

The trial for Rubiales, who faces charges of sexual assault and coercion, commenced today in the Madrid area.

Rubiales is accused of forcibly kissing Hermoso on the podium after the Spanish women’s team secured victory in the 2023 World Cup held in Sydney.

Hermoso asserted that she did not consent to the kiss, which led to widespread outrage both within and beyond the realm of football, marking one of the most significant scandals in Spanish football history.

As the initial witness in the trial, Hermoso stated: “My boss kissed me, and that should never occur in any social or professional setting,” according to the BBC.

She emphasized that she never granted permission to Rubiales.

“I didn’t hear or understand anything. The next thing I knew, he grabbed me by the ears and planted a kiss on my mouth. A kiss on the mouth should only occur when I choose to,” Hermoso recounted.

The prosecution is pursuing a one-year prison sentence for the 47-year-old Rubiales, along with an additional year and a half for coercion, as he allegedly attempted to pressure Hermoso to publicly claim that the kiss was consensual.

Rubiales has denied all accusations.

The trial is scheduled to continue until February 19th.

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