(Madrid) The hearing of Spanish player Jenni Hermoso by the courts in the case of the forced kiss given to her by the former president of the Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales has been postponed until January 2, the court announced Friday.
The magistrate in charge of the case “has moved to January 2 at 10 a.m. the hearing of the player of the (Spanish) women’s selection Jennifer Hermoso, initially scheduled for Tuesday November 28,” indicated the National Court in a press release.
This change is explained in particular by agenda problems raised by Rubiales’ lawyer.
Former boss of Spanish football, Rubiales was indicted for “sexual assault” by the Spanish courts in this case, and was prohibited from approaching within 200 meters of the attacker, who plays in Pachuca, in the Mexican championship.
He is also being prosecuted for “coercion” due to the pressure he allegedly exerted on Hermoso and those around her to change her statements.
On August 20, a few minutes after the world title of the women’s “Roja” in Sydney, Rubiales, aged 46, kissed Hermoso on the mouth by surprise, a gesture which provoked international indignation.
He always claimed that this kiss was “consensual”, a version denied by Jenni Hermoso who said she felt “victim […] of an impulsive and sexist act, inappropriate and without any consent on (his) part.”
Under pressure, Rubiales ended up resigning on September 10 and has since been suspended for three years from all football-related activities by FIFA.