Former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales said Tuesday that he asked Women’s World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso for permission before kissing her during the on-field medal ceremony for Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory in 2023.

The prosecuting lawyer in the trial of Luis Rubiales says he enforced “a code of silence” among those in senior roles at the Spanish football federation while trying to calm the storm around his behaviour at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

Former Spanish soccer federation boss Luis Rubiales told a court on Tuesday that player Jenni Hermoso had given her consent for him to kiss her in the aftermath of the Spain women's World Cup victory in 2023.