Jenni Hermoso was 'pressured into downplaying' Luis Rubiales kiss at 2023 World Cup, Spain star's brother tells court

Former RFEF president Rubiales is standing trial in Spain after being accused of sexual assault and coercion after grabbing and kissing Hermoso after Spain beat England in the final of the Women's World Cup in 2023. Hermoso said afterwards the kiss was not consensual and added she was then pressured to downplay Rubiales' actions. The World Cup winner's brother Rafael has now testified at the trial and told the court what Hermoso said to him after the incident.

As reported by ESPN, he told the court: "She came to us half-crying and told us that they were pressuring her to take a stance downplaying the kiss."

Rafael added that then-national team manager Jorge Vilda, who is also on trial for coercion, spoke to him on the flight home. He said: "We were talking about soccer and the achievement of the team and suddenly he mentioned the kiss. He said that the president wanted me to talk to Jenni to ask her to record the video together downplaying the kiss, because that would be the best thing for everyone."

He also said that he felt Vilda had threatened his sister about not helping and that he had told the Spain boss: "I was not going to try to convince her to do something that I also don't agree with."

Hermoso has already appeared as a witness at the trial, revealing the death threats she received after the kiss and how the saga "stained one of the happiest days of her life". Rubiales denies all the charges against him and is still yet to testify.

The trial is set to continue and is expected to last 10 days in total. The prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a half-year jail term for Rubiales as well as a €50,000 (£41,000) fine for damages and a ban from working as a sports official.