Berlin, Feb 6, (dpa/GNA) – Spain men’s national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, testified as a witness in the second day of the trial against former Spanish football federation (RFEF) president, Luis Rubiales over, the women’s World Cup kissing affair.
De la Fuente said on Tuesday that he was not involved in the direct investigation, after Rubiales kissed Spain player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips, at the victory ceremony, after Spain won the 2023 women’s World Cup on August 20 in Sydney.
Hermoso said several times that the kiss was not consensual, which she repeated in her statement at the court on Monday.
The Europa Press said De la Fuente emphasized, that he didn’t attend an extraordinary RFEF meeting on August 23, 2023, which had the purpose to prepare a statement to mitigate the effects of the incident.
Rubiales is being accused of sexual aggression and coercion, and faces several years in prison. He has said he’s innocent and initially wanted to stay on as RFEF president, before eventually stepping down in mid-September 2023. He was later banned from football activities for three years by football governing body FIFA.
Former women’s coach Jorge Vilda, former RFEF sporting director Albert Luque, and former RFEF marketing director Rubén Rivera will. They are primarily accused of coercion, among other things, because they allegedly put Hermoso under pressure so that she wouldn’t accuse Rubiales of sexual aggression.
Rubiales and the other defendants are to be heard from February 12. The hearing will run until February 19, while there’s no deadline for the verdict.
GNA