More than two years after the affair, Luis Rubiales continues to dispute the facts. The former president of the Spanish Football Federation, convicted of having sent an unauthorized kiss to the player Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s world title, publishes a book entitled Killing Rubialesin which he describes himself as the victim of a media storm.
Guest of the show El Chiringuito, Rubiales returned to this affair, four months after the confirmation on appeal of his conviction for sexual assault. “Yes, I appealed the sentence. When a sentence is handed down, we all have an obligation to respect it. We believe this is not sexual assault and we have the right to appeal”he explained.
He then detailed his position on the matter, insisting that his gesture had no sexual nature. “The sentence was changed disproportionately. It was called an ‘unconsensual kiss’. The hearing is currently suspended. The case must be taken to the Supreme Court. There must be sexual intent in the kiss. This must be clearly defined in the award. We have arguments to say there was wrongdoing, but not a crime.”added the former leader.
“I don’t apologize to Jenni Hermoso”
According to him, Jenni Hermoso had consented to him giving her a kiss on the podium at the trophy ceremony: “It was a mistake, I didn’t do the right thing”he admits.
“From there to everything that happened, things were distorted, pushed to the extreme… with certain vested interests. It’s more than I deserved. I stand by my words. I apologize, I apologize again.”
Today, Rubiales still refuses to apologize to Jenni Hermoso, whom he accuses of having changed his version.
“I’m not apologizing to Jenni Hermoso because I asked her and she said ‘okay.’ Jenni and I know that what the ruling says is wrong. I’m not going to change my original testimony like she did. It was an emotional kiss, without any sexual connotation. Jenni was a good friend… Jenni was my friend”concluded the former strong man of Spanish football.
