Luis de la Fuente denies involvement in Jenni Hermoso's kiss controversy
- Luis de la Fuente claimed he did not engage in conversations about Jenni Hermoso's kiss incident during the trial.
- The kiss, which occurred at the 2023 Women's World Cup final, has led to accusations of sexual assault against Rubiales.
- The ongoing trial has sparked widespread outrage regarding sexism in sports and is expected to last for at least 10 days.
In Spain, the trial of Luis Rubiales, the former Spanish soccer president, has drawn significant attention due to accusations of sexual assault and coercion involving player Jenni Hermoso. The incident in question occurred during the 2023 Women's World Cup final presentation ceremony in Sydney, where Rubiales controversially kissed Hermoso, leading to a public outcry regarding the treatment of women in sports. Hermoso claims that the kiss was non-consensual, while Rubiales asserts it was consensual. During his court appearance, national men's coach Luis de la Fuente testified that he had no discussions about the kiss with federation officials and only spoke to Hermoso at a gala event two months prior. He claimed that nobody approached him for input regarding Hermoso's potential statement supporting Rubiales after the event, reinforcing his stance that he remained focused on football during the aftermath of the scandal. Rubiales is currently facing significant legal consequences, including a potential prison sentence, and has been banned from sports activities. The trial is expected to examine the actions of several other former officials involved in pressuring Hermoso for a public defense of Rubiales, highlighting the broader issue of sexism within sports that has spurred nationwide discussions and protests in Spain.