Luis Rubiales insists he won’t apologise to Jenni Hermoso as he maintains his innocence over World Cup final kiss | OneFootball

Luis Rubiales has maintained his innocence after being convicted of sexual assault for kissing Spain star Jenni Hermoso. Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)

Luis Rubiales has insisted that he won’t apologise to Jenni Hermoso and has maintained his innocence after he was convicted of sexual assault, for kissing the Spain star without consent after the 2023 World Cup final.

The former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president kissed Hermoso on the lips as she went to collect her winner’s medal after Spain’s victory over England.

Rubiales pledged his innocence, but was forced to step down from the role and fined 10,000 euros (£8,834) as Spain’s High Court found him guilty of sexual assault. He was acquitted of coercion for allegedly trying to pressure Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual in public.

The 48-year-old lost an appeal against his conviction in June. However, in a new interview with El Chiringuito, Rubiales claimed that he has again appealed the sentence and that “it has to reach the Supreme Court”.

As per Goal, Rubiales appeared on the Spanish TV station to promote his new book ‘Killing Rubiales’.

What did Luis Rubiales say about Jenni Hermoso?

Luis Rubiales admitted the kiss was a “mistake” but insisted he won’t apologise to Jenni Hermoso.

He also insisted that Hermoso approved the kiss, something that the Spanish forward has repeatedly denied.

Rubiales said: “It was a mistake, I wasn’t right. From there to everything that’s been blown out of proportion, distorted, taken to the extreme with certain interests. It’s more than I deserved.

“I stand by it. I apologise, I apologise again. As president, I should have been more composed, more professional.

“I’m not apologising to Jenni Hermoso because I asked her and she said: ‘Okay’. Jenni and I know that what the ruling says isn’t true. It was a kiss of emotion, with no sexual connotation whatsoever. Jenni was a good friend, she missed a penalty, she helped us a lot in rebuilding the team. Jenni was my friend.”

Rubiales said that his legal team has appealed the sentence as they “believe this is not sexual assault”.

He claimed that it has to reach the Supreme Court and that he has arguments to say that it “was a wrongful act, but not a crime”.

During the interview, Rubiales also insisted there were political motives behind the controversy, claiming he was a target of Spain’s left-wing government and media.

What has Jenni Hermoso said about the incident?

Jenni Hermoso has always strongly denied claims that she gave Luis Rubiales consent for the kiss (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Hermoso reflected on the scandal after receiving her first Spain call-up after a one-year absence last month.

She said: “So much damage has been caused to me. I have had to assume the consequences of an act that I did not provoke, that I had not chosen or premeditated.

The Tigres forward added that she received support from England players, as well as celebrities and fans.

“That’s what gave me the strength to continue. I mean that so many people were with me,” she said.

“Actresses, singers, soccer players, some of them rivals we had faced in the World Cup, including the English national team, whom we beat in the final. All of that gave me the strength to keep going and to think that I had to go through this for everyone. There are many colleagues who needed someone to speak up.”

Despite Rubiales’ comments, Hermoso has always strongly denied claims that she gave consent for the kiss.