Ex-Spain football coach tried to convince Spain’s Jenni Hermoso to downplay Luis Rubiales kissing her on mouth

Former Spain women’s soccer coach Jorge Vilda revealed during a court hearing that he tried to convince Spain star Jenni Hermoso to play down the incident which saw her getting kissed on the mouth Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales at the 2023 World Cup. Vilda said that he spoke to Hermoso’s brother, Rafael, on the flight back to Spain from Sydney. Vilda claims that he was “trying to normalise the situation”.
The incident had happened as the Spanish women’s football team was celebrating their victory over England in the Women’s World Cup final. Rubiales, who was the head of the Spanish football federation, had kissed Spain star Hermoso on the lips during the ceremony. The incident was caught on camera and had led to widespread condemnation of Rubiales. FIFA had suspended Rubiales over the scandal.
Rubiales, who took the stand on Tuesday, denies charges of sexual assault and coercion, insing the kiss was consensual, while Hermoso said it was not.
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Vilda, who is on trial on charges of attempting to coerce Hermoso to say that the kiss was consensual, had been sacked 10 days after the incident. He told the Madrid court that he had spoken to Hermoso’s brother to persuade his ser off his own accord and not at Rubiales’ behest. The trial is in its final phase. Spanish reports claim that a verdict can be expected in the coming weeks. Prosecutors are seeking a 2-1/2 years’ prison term for Rubiales.
“I went to talk to her brother because I was worried at the time, to try to normalise the situation, thinking about the future…and my team,” Vilda said. “I didn’t specify whether it should be a video but (that she) to go out and talk and make some sort of comment.”
The ensuing uproar gave momentum to the “Me Too” movement in the Spanish women’s game in which players sought to combat sexism and achieve parity with their male peers.
Besides Vilda there are two more former soccer federation workers who are accused of coercion: Albert Luque and Ruben Rivera. Both of them have also denied wrongdoing.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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