Spain men's soccer coach distances himself from controversial kiss in sexual assault case

Luis de la Fuente (footballer, born 1961)coach

They told me, ‘We’re getting into a huge mess with the kiss business’, but we went on to speak about matters that concerned me,

De la Fuente said

Hermoso is a rather influence-prone and pretty manipulable person, so she can change her opinion,

Cuervo said

Nobody talked to me or asked me about

a possible statement ... De la Fuente said

For me, it was important to be able to celebrate this moment,

she said

The next thing he did was to grab me by the ears and kiss me on the mouth,

she said

I had cameramen outside my house 24/7 and cars. I received death threats. I had to leave Madrid with my family. It was impossible to be there,

she said

I didn't hear or understand anything,

Hermoso said

Jenni Hermosofootball player

I felt disrespected. I think it was a moment that stained one of the happiest days of my life."

Speaking on the opening day of the trial at Madrid's High Court, Hermoso said

I have not been able to really live freely,

she told the court

I believe in the truth and I will do everything in my power to make sure it prevails,

he said when he stepped down as head of the federation

I skimmed it and I didn’t want to know exactly what it said,

she told the court

I’ll say it again: never, at any moment, did I look for any of this to happen.”

She added

Obviously, even today, I say that my life changed at that moment,

she said

I was acting according to my heart at the time; I was enjoying it and I wanted to enjoy it,

she said

Thank you again, Jenni, for your bravery. Thanks to you and your teammates we add another victory for feminism,

Equality Minister Ana Redondo wrote on X shortly before the trial started

This shouldn't happen in any social or work setting... A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so,

Hermoso said on the opening day of the trial at the National Court in San Fernando de Henares near Madrid

Until today it feels like my life has been on stand by" due to the case

she added

I felt it was totally out of place and I then realised my boss was kissing me, and this shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting,

Hermoso told the court on the opening day of the trial on Monday

The pressure the player was submitted to created in Jennifer Hermoso a situation of anxiety and intense stress

He concluded in his bombshell ruling

Queen Letizia of Spainconsort of Spain

The spontaneity and happiness of the historic moment led us to carry out a mutual and consensual act, a product of great enthusiasm

Rubiales, who had apologised for grabbing his crotch during the post-final World Cup celebrations in front of Spain's Queen Letizia and her then-16-year-old daughter, had said in a lengthy statement before announcing his decision to quit