The judge presiding over the National Court investigation into the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, is pursuing a line of inquiry after Rubiales was accused of kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso on the mouth. Earlier this week, the magistrate extended an offer to Patricia Pérez, the communications chief of the women’s national team, inviting her to report the alleged pressure she says she endured. The aim is to clarify the sequence of events and the pressures surrounding the kiss incident, as described in Pérezs testimony. These developments come as part of the ongoing probe into the events that followed Hermosos World Cup appearance and the public fallout that ensued. This account has been reported by legal sources and later confirmed by multiple outlets, including Europa Press.
The centralized education court system, represented by the magistrate Francisco de Jorge, is now examining new steps in the case as Hermoso prepares to make her own public statement. This movement occurs just days before Hermoso is expected to address the issue in a formal setting. The focus remains on how the incident was handled at the highest levels of the federation and the potential influence of senior figures within the organization.
When Pérez testified, she highlighted the pressures she claims were exerted during an integrity meeting held at the RFEF headquarters following the World Cup controversy. Rubiales and his father were present, and it is alleged that the men responsible for the mens team, including the head coach Luis de la Fuente, were in attendance as well. Pérez described a charged atmosphere that raised questions about the independence and safety of those who spoke out.
De la Fuente, while present at the RFEF complex on that day, explained that he was in a nearby office addressing unrelated tasks and only joined the meeting as it was already underway. He asserted that there was no chance to participate in decisions outside his official role and denied any involvement in pressuring Pérez. His account emphasizes that professional duties required him to be in a different area of the building, separate from the central discussion.
Javier Puyol, who led the position at the meeting, corroborated the general narrative that Pérez faced pressure during the integrity session after the World Cup incident. His testimony adds a layer of corroboration to the collective accounts gathered by the prosecution, as described in the witness statements before the judge.
Pérez provided all the information and data from her mobile phone as part of the voluntary collaboration with the magistrate, which has been noted in the court record. As the judge considers whether to pursue a formal complaint, the case remains open to new filings or further developments. The proceedings reflect the ongoing effort to understand the sequence of events, the roles of those involved, and the broader implications for leadership within Spanish football. The process continues to unfold as authorities evaluate the evidence and determine the appropriate legal next steps, with ongoing reporting from multiple legal briefings and outlets. (Europa Press)