This Tuesday, February 4, at the trial of Luis Rubiales, the current Spanish coach made it known that he was not “aware of the extent” of the scandal caused by the forced kiss of the former boss of Spanish football.
Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente admitted on Tuesday at the trial of Luis Rubiales that he was not immediately “aware of the extent”of the scandal caused by the kiss imposed by the former head of the Federation on Jenni Hermoso, assuring that he did not participate in the attempts to mitigate it. Heard as a witness, the coach of the men's “Roja” was present in Sydney during the coronation of the women's team in the World Cup final on August 20, 2023, then on the plane bringing the players and the delegation back to Spain.
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It was on this plane that de la Fuente assured Tuesday before the National Court, in San Fernando de Henares, near Madrid, that he had been informed of the kiss imposed without the consent of the Spanish number 10.“After more than 36 hours with almost no sleep, you will understand that I was very tired […] I was not aware of the magnitude” of the scandal caused by this gesture, explained Luis de la Fuente, on the second day of the trial of Luis Rubiales and three leaders of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“I did not participate in any way” in the management of this case by the Federation, assured de la Fuente, appointed head of the men's national team during the mandate of Luis Rubiales (2018-2023), denying in particular having taken part in a crisis meeting with Luis Rubiales and others responsible.
“A false feminism”
A few days after the scandal broke, Luis de la Fuente was roundly criticised – and had to apologise – after applauding Luis Rubiales at an extraordinary general meeting of the RFEF, after the latter had refused to resign, notably criticising “false feminism” in the criticism aimed at him. The former strongman of Spanish football has been on trial since Monday for sexual assault and coercion for having put pressure on the footballer to cover up the scandal. The prosecution has requested a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for her.
Read also: Football: “It was a reciprocal act, she came to me, very happy”, Rubiales defends herself in the forced kiss case
During the hearing, the former head of communications for the RFEF, Pablo García Cuervo, admitted to having written a press release on behalf of Jenni Hermoso based on statements made by the player during a television interview. He then assured that he had not insisted that she make a video to attenuate the scandal, stating that he found that the top scorer of the Roja was “an impressionable and manipulable person […] who (could) change version”.