Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso has arrived at court to give evidence against the former president of the country’s football association Luis Rubiales over the ‘kiss-gate’ scandal.
Photographs showed Hermoso arriving at Madrid’s High Court for a closed door session in which she will give her version of the events after Spain’s World Cup victory in August.
Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips as the Spanish team collected their medals and the trophy following the 1-0 victory over England in Sydney.
The former Spanish federation chief insisted the kiss was consensual and denies any wrongdoing.
He was banned from all football-related activities by world governing body FIFA and eventually resigned as Spanish FA president.
Jenni Hermoso arrives at the High Court in Madrid to give evidence against former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales over the ‘Kiss-gate’ incident at the Women’s World Cup
Hermoso will give evidence at a closed session in Madrid on Tuesday as judges decide whether the case should proceed to a trial
Rubiales resigned as Spanish FA president and was suspended by FIFA after he kissed Hermoso on the lips as she celebrated Spain’s World Cup win in August
Hermoso filed a criminal complaint against Rubiales on September 6 and prosecutors filed a lawsuit against him alleging sexual assault and coercion two days later.
The alleged act of coercion related to Rubiales pressuring Hermoso to speak out in his defence after he was criticised for his behaviour.
The presiding judge at Madrid’s High Court must now decide if the case should be sent for trial.
More to follow.