Jenni Hermoso Speaks Out About Fallout from Unsolicited Kiss After World Cup Win: ‘It Hurt and It Still Hurts’

• Spain’s Jenni Hermoso said it “still hurts” to be left out of the squad in September after kissing former president Luis Rubiales unwanted
• Montse Tomé’s new trainer said it was “the best way to protect her” at the time
• Hermoso said she has “changed a lot” since the incident with Rubiales in August

Spanish soccer star Jenni Hermoso has spoken out about the fallout after former team president Luis Rubiales kissed her on the lips following the team’s World Cup win.

Hermoso, 33, spoke to reporters in her first international news conference since the incident and said it “still hurts” that she was not selected for the Spanish women’s national soccer team’s roster in September, according to ESPN.

At the time, new coach Montse Tomé said that her exclusion from the team was “the best way to protect herself”, per USA Today. Hermoso returned to the team in October. The same month, FIFA announced a three-year sports ban for Rubiales.

Ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Nations League final against France, Hermoso explained that she did not understand Tomé’s decision.

“I didn’t understand it and I never will,” Hermoso said, according to an ESPN report. “It hurt and it still hurts, but it’s something that happened now and the best thing for me is to be here, wear the shirt again and play another final.”

Jenni Hermoso responded to the exclusion from the list of the Spanish women’s soccer team: ‘What to protect me from?’

Jennifer Hermoso from Spain.

Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty

As for the aftermath of Rubiales’ unwanted kiss, Hermoso said: “The last press conference I gave was before the World Cup semi-final. A lot has happened since then – it’s hard to know what to say.”

Hermoso, Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer, continued: “I’ve changed a lot, personally and football-wise. It’s all served to make me stronger. I’ve learned a lot and I’m happy to be back for another final after six long months. ”

Concluding her statement, Hermoso said: “It’s important for me to play another final and continue here. I feel good, football continues to give me the life I need and I continue to enjoy this sport.”

FIFA bans Spanish player Luis Rubiales for 3 years for unwanted kiss at World Cup

In September, Hermoso wrote a powerful message in Spanish and English on social media after being cut from the team.

“Let’s be clear: a claim was made today that the environment within the federation would be safe for my colleagues to rejoin, but at the same press conference it was announced that they were not calling me to protect me,” Hermoso wrote, meaning on player safety.

“Protect me from what? And from whom? For weeks, even months, we have been asking for protection from the RFEF that never came,” the striker continued. “The people who are now asking us to believe them are the same people who today released the list of players who requested NOT to be called up.”

“The players are convinced that this is another strategy of division and manipulation to intimidate us and threaten us with legal consequences and economic sanctions,” she wrote, adding: “This is yet another irrefutable piece of evidence showing that nothing has changed today.”

Hermosa ended her statement by offering her full support to her colleagues who were “forced to respond to another unfortunate situation caused by the people who continue to make decisions within the RFEF.”

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On September 5, the RFEF issued an apology to the “football world” and announced the dismissal of head coach Jorge Vilda, who led the World Cup-winning team. Vilda reportedly applauded Rubiales’ remarks at the extraordinary assembly, per USA Today.

On September 10, Rubiales, 46, shared a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, announcing that he has officially resigned as president of the federation.

“I have faith in the truth and will do everything in my power to make it prevail,” he wrote in the bold part of the statement.

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Source: HIS Education