The Prague Post - Hermoso 'overwhelmed' by forced kiss, teammates tell trial

Rubiales sparked worldwide outrage for the kiss on Hermoso after she had just helped Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Australia.

The 47-year-old, who was forced to resign that year, has been on trial since Monday, accused of sexual assault for the kiss and then attempting to coerce Hermoso, 34, to downplay the incident with the help of other federation officials.

Hermoso "was not well" after the kiss, Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas told the National Court just outside Madrid by video.

She added her teammate "was really overwhelmed and she told us they would not leave her alone, that they wouldn't stop".

Arsenal centre-back Laia Codina told the trial that during a team celebration trip to the Spanish island of Ibiza, Hermoso "was sad, she was not enjoying herself, far from it" even though it "should have been the best moment in your life".

Ana Belen Ecube, Hermoso's friend who accompanied her to Ibiza, said the player "tried to enjoy the trip, being with her teammates, the surroundings, but was then conscious of what had happened and was sad, down, wasn't herself".

Prosecutors are seeking two and a half years in prison against Rubiales.

Among the accused alongside him are ex-women's national team coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials, Ruben Rivera and Albert Luque.

They also stand accused of trying to coerce Hermoso with prosecutors seeking 18 months' jail against them.

The player's older brother, Rafael Hermoso, told the trial on Wednesday that Vilda asked him on the flight back to Spain after the World Cup to "convince" his sister to record a video with Rubiales to show she was not bothered by the kiss.

Vilda warned his sister she faced "professional and personal consequences" if she did not cooperate, he added.

Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the national women's team, was not called up immediately after the World Cup, with new coach Montse Tome saying she wanted to protect the player. She now plays in Mexico.

"To deprive her of doing her job was a bit unfair, to say the least," Putellas told the court.

Z.Pavlik--TPP