The legal representation of the Spanish national team player Jenni Hermoso has asked the judge of the National Court to investigate the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales for the kiss he gave her at the World Cup trophy presentation that agree to a confrontation between Ana Belén Ecube, her friend who testified as a witness, and the marketing director of the RFEF, Rubén Rivera, who has appeared as being investigated for possible coercion of the player.
In a letter, to which Europa Press has had access, Hermoso's lawyer addresses the head of the Central Court of Instruction number 1, Francisco de Jorge, to request the practice of this diligence, considering it "adequate and pertinent because it has been observed by this "parts the discrepancy between the statements of both".
He adds that these statements made during the investigation "are of notable importance in determining the guilt of the person under investigation" since there are no "other feasible means of proof for their investigation."
It should be remembered that Ana Belén Ecube went to testify at the National Court on September 25, the same day that the senior player's brother did so. Then, and according to legal sources consulted by Europa Press, she supported Hermoso's testimony before the magistrate, in which he indicated that the kiss was not consensual and that there was coercion behind it.
For his part, Rubén Rivera testified before the judge as a defendant on October 10, when he denied that he participated in the coercion that is being investigated. Rivera, who moved to Ibiza – where the players celebrated winning the World Cup – would have explained that his job was to convey the information from the RFEF to the footballers themselves. In his words, his presence on the island was that of a kind of qualified messenger.
Along these lines, Rivera maintained that she was there to help everyone, carrying out tasks such as purchasing bikinis, summer clothes or tickets to clubs. Furthermore, he has denied that he spoke with Rubiales or that he gave him any type of indication. He did acknowledge that she approached Hermoso solely to warn him that they had called him and that he should be on the phone.
Rivera also explained that she spoke with a friend of the player about logistical issues – with Ecube. In that conversation he also tried to convince her friend to get Hermoso to agree to speak with the director of the National Team, Albert Luque, a conversation that never materialized.
It should be remembered that in this case, former president Rubiales is being investigated for an alleged crime of sexual assault and for possible subsequent coercion of the player and her environment.
