In her testimony, the former head of marketing for the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Ruben Rivera, asserts he did not discuss with anyone from the Federation the kisses, statements, or explanations connected to the World Cup final. He addressed the matter before the National Court as part of the Rubiales case, explaining that he did not speak to Jenni Hermoso about the kiss involving the federation, and that she had replied that there was no talk with him whatsoever.
In the full statement released to EL PERIÓDICO DE CATALUNYA, Rivera distance himself from the charge of coercion and the specific question of whether coercion occurred. He emphasized that if there had been any conversation with Hermoso at the Federation, she would have noted it, but she replied, “of course not.”
Rivera added that the most convincing evidence is Hermoso’s own account in the hours after the brief contact. He recalled that the next day, while the team gathered on Ibiza, she contacted him, and players spoke one after another. She thanked him for his role in the events, and it raised questions about what had happened afterward.
Showdown on Monday: Rivera, who was summoned again to the National Court to address inconsistencies between Hermoso’s friend Ana Belén Ecube and the statements of both in court, said he was only semi-aware of the media fallout. He had received a kiss and described his awareness as partial. He noted that he was working long hours, sometimes 20 to 22 hours a day, which affected how clearly he could recall every detail.
Hermoso downplayed the significance of the conversations with Rivera, explaining that her priority at the time was the World Cup and the security surrounding the event. She indicated that she did not attach excessive weight to the interaction, given the busy context of the team, the clubs, and friends who were present. The report mentioned a Federation employee who accompanied the events in Ibiza and acted as a point of contact during the medal ceremony; Rivera said this person did not contact him directly.
Rivera denied pressuring Hermoso to speak with García Caba or the team manager, Albert Luque, both of whom faced separate questions. When asked, he said his aim was simply to speak with the player who reported the kiss. He stated that Hermoso was not speaking with García Caba while her phone was charging and that any claim of persistent effort to coax a discussion was not accurate. He also noted that García had called Hermoso once, after which there was no further contact that he could recall.
The narrative surrounding these exchanges continues to unfold as court proceedings address the timing and nature of any conversations, the context in which they occurred, and the implications for the parties involved. The court’s examination focuses on whether there was coercion, what was said, and how the events around the kiss were perceived by teammates and staff. The ongoing testimony from Rivera and others will be weighed against the broader questions about leadership, accountability, and the culture within the federation during a period of intense scrutiny following the World Cup victory.
As the hearings proceed, observers are looking for a clearer picture of the interactions that sparked debate in the post-tournament period. The evidence presented in court, alongside public statements, will contribute to the ongoing discussion about conduct, communication, and the responsibilities of federation officials when dealing with high-profile moments and the media spotlight that accompanies world-class sport.