(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 (Spanish) women’s team player Jennifer Hermoso, initially scheduled for Tuesday, November 28,” the National Court said in a statement.
This change is explained in particular by agenda problems raised by Rubiales’ lawyer.
Ex-Spanish football boss, Rubiales was charged with “sexual assault” by the Spanish courts in this case, and was prohibited from approaching within 200 meters of the attacker, who plays for 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 women’s “Roja” won the world title in Sydney, Rubiales, 46, surprised Hermoso on the lips, a gesture that provoked international outrage.
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.
