Former President of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales has testified before a court that footballer Jenni Hermoso gave him consent to kiss her during medal presentation after Spain won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia.

Mr Rubiales is currently on trial, which started weeks ago, over allegations that the ex-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation committed sexual assault and coercing Ms Hermoso into a kiss during the World Cup final, an incident which sparked headlines around the world.

In his testimony, Mr Rubiales told Spain’s National Court in Madrid that he was “absolutely sure” that Ms Hermoso consented to the infamous kiss, adding: “In that moment it was something completely spontaneous,’’ the BBC reported.

Mr Rubiales described the kiss as “an act of affection,” noting that “This was a tremendous moment for her.”

“We were thanking each other, she pressed me very hard around the waist and then I asked her whether I could give her a kiss and she said yes,” he said. “I took hold of her so as not to fall back.”

This incident drew widespread condemnation from the football community and Mr Rubiales was immediately suspended from football-related activities by FIFA before being forced to resign as the president of RFEF weeks later.

Ms Hermoso had earlier told court that the incident stained one of the “happiest moments of her life.”