Lip reader claims Luis Rubiales uttered 6-word statement before kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso at World Cub

A lip reader has this week supported Luis Rubiales' claim that Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso gave her consent before he kissed her at the Women's World Cup final in 2023.

Speaking at a court in Madrid yesterday (11 Feb), the human behaviour expert alleged that the former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president had issued Hermoso with a 6-word warning before planting his lips upon hers.

On 20 August 2023, following Spain's monumental 1-0 victory against England, midfielder Hermoso joined her team for celebrations, before making her way onto a podium to receive a medal.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the now 34-year-old with the prestigious accolade, before she was approached by Rubiales, who hugged her and lifted her off her feet.

Seconds later, some spectators were horrified to see the sporting boss lay his arms around Hermoso and kiss her on the lips.

Fox Sports later alleged that footage from the stadium's locker room also showed Rubiales telling the players they would celebrate their win with a trip to Ibiza, adding: "And there, we’ll celebrate my wedding with Jenni!"

In the months that followed, Hermoso - who initially laughed off the moment, before later confessing she 'didn't like' the kiss - and a team of lawyers accused the former president of sexual assault.

Rubiales, who denies any criminal wrongdoing, was also reportedly attempting to coerce her into publicly saying the kiss had been consensual, something he maintained during an appearance in court earlier this week.

Swearing on oath he was 'absolutely sure' Hermoso consented to being kissed, the 47-year-old also alleged that the viral moment was an 'act of affection', before claiming it was 'something completely spontaneous'.

"We were champions, we were thanking each other," Rubiales insisted.

"She pressed me very hard by the waist and then I asked her whether I could give her a kiss and she said yes."

And as we say, according to The Telegraph, Rubiales' assertions were supported in court by lip reading expert David Morillo, who insisted that footage shows the sport boss asking Hermoso that day: "Can I give you a little kiss?"

After being called as a witness by Rubiales' defence team, Morillo - who is deaf, and has used lip reading and sign language to communicate his whole life - insisted he's certain the president asked Hermoso for a 'besito' (Spanish for a 'little kiss').

The public prosecutor went on to point out, however, that Morillo has no formal qualifications for his lip reading skills.

Rubiales was later asked whether he warned Hermoso about a 'kiss' or a 'little kiss', to which he claimed he 'did not remember' 'at that moment', but insisted 'it is obvious that I said kiss'.

The ex-president - who, if found guilty, faces a one-year prison sentence for sexual assault and an 18-month sentence for coercion - was also asked by prosecutors whether he usually kisses people on the lips.

Rubiales reportedly claimed in response that he'd have acted in the same way if a male player had led his team to victory, and kisses his daughters in a similar way during New Year celebrations.

Hermoso also spoke in court, telling attendees: "My boss was kissing me, and this shouldn't happen in any social or work setting.

"A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so."

Touching on the second allegation she has filed against Rubiales, she added that, in the moments after the kiss, she was pulled aside and asked to consent to a statement which minimised the sensationalising of the incident - something she refused to do.

Hermoso added that, on the flight home from Sydney, Australia, she was asked to record a video insisting she'd consented in that moment, after accusations of abuse began littering the internet.