The brother of Jenni Hermoso and one of her teammates have told a judge there were attempts to pressure the player into downplaying the unsolicited kiss by former Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales in the awards presentation ceremony following the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Footballer Jenni Hermoso said Luis Rubiales was “disrespectful” when he kissed her after Spain’s 2023 World Cup victory and had “tainted one of the happiest days of my life”, a Madrid court heard on Monday.

By Guillermo Martinez and Michael Francis Gore MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -Spanish women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso confronted former soccer federation boss Luis Rubiales at his trial on Monday, saying she did not agree to the kiss that triggered a national backlash against sexism in sport.