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Rubiales Returns to TV, Refuses Apology to Hermoso, and Claims Sánchez Used Him as a Smokescreen

He breaks his media silence to defend his version of the 2023 World Cup kiss as he promotes a new book with Supreme Court review of his upheld conviction pending.

Overview

  • In an interview on El Chiringuito, Luis Rubiales reiterated that the World Cup kiss was consensual and said he will not apologize to Jenni Hermoso.
  • Rubiales accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of using his case as a distraction linked to negotiations and an amnesty for pro‑independence parties.
  • His February conviction for sexual assault over the kiss was confirmed on appeal in June and now awaits review by Spain's Supreme Court.
  • Hermoso has testified that the kiss was non‑consensual and that there were attempts to pressure her to say it was, a version accepted by the courts.
  • Rubiales is promoting his book, Matar a Rubiales, and he remains under investigation in the separate Supercopa case involving alleged corruption and mismanagement.