Former RFEF President Luis Rubiales testified in court in recent days.
Several members of the RFEF staff, the Spanish team and the coaching team were called to give their version of events in court, with the prosecutor accusing Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion. Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes and Misa Rodriguez all appeared in court to testify about pressure on Hermoso to publicly downplay the incident.
El Espanol claims to have had access to Rubiales’ statements.
“I was kissing the players, the coach, when she passed. She comes towards me to hug me. We kiss, she picks me up and I make a gesture so as not to fall, all this happens during a conversation where I remind her that without her, we would not have won the World Cup. So I ask him, I ask him. And she said okay.”
“She grabs me wherever she can, I grab her too and there’s nothing left. Two or three minutes later they all picked me up and threw me in the air. And at this point I’m not saying they shouldn’t touch me, excuse my language, my butt, my knees or my back. We won a World Cup and the enormous euphoria and joy that comes from it is indescribable.”
Rubiales goes on to compare this moment of euphoria to winning the lottery or the return of peace.
“It happened as naturally as when you win the lottery or the war in Ukraine is over or you win the World Cup, this outpouring, this spontaneity. She said it herself, she told me it was good,” Rubiales concluded.
