World champion Jennifer Hermoso reiterated in front of a judge on Tuesday that the controversial kiss during the celebrations after winning the World Cup for the first time was non-consensual and forced. 

The player also said that the forced kiss by the former Real Sociedad and Spanish League One footballer, who is now the ex-president of the RFEF (forced to resign following the scandal), was never consensual. She also claimed that she was pressured into defending him after the incident. 

The international player, who recently left FC Pachuca to join another professional club in Mexico by signing for Tigres de la UANL Femenil, confirmed her testimony at the National Court in Madrid. She smiled and greeted the press present in the centre of Madrid.

This hearing, originally scheduled for 28 November, was postponed in order to reiterate the complaint she made at the time about the forced kiss she received after Spain won the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

As well as confirming the complaint, she had to expand on it and give a detailed account of the events that will be the subject of legal proceedings. "Everything is now in the hands of the justice system, and that is all I can say," the player said as she left the court and approached the press to wish them a happy new year. 

Asked at the press conference how the 33-year-old Madrid-born player, who has been an international since 2012, was feeling, she replied: "I'm fine, I'm strong."

Once the accused, who was born 46 years ago in the Canary Islands, has been given the right to defend himself and the athlete has been returned to the National Court, the judicial system will decide whether the actions could constitute the crime of sexual assault of which he is accused.   

The judge, Francisco de Jorge, will decide whether to prosecute Luis Rubiales on the two charges of sexual assault and coercion, for either of them, or if there are insufficient grounds to initiate criminal proceedings and close the case. If the criminal proceedings are initiated, evidence will be presented, the accused will make a formal statement, and a judge will evaluate the evidence and render a verdict according to the procedures established by the Code of Criminal Procedure, which governs criminal matters in Spain. 

It is worth noting that during the current impeachment process is ongoing, the judge has imposed a precautionary measure (not to rule on the merits of the case, but to avoid potential harm to the complainant during the proceedings). This precautionary measure prohibits Rubiales from coming within 200 metres of the player. 

FIFA also suspended the former president of Spanish football for three years (a decision he said he would appeal). In addition to Rubiales, three other people are under investigation for alleged pressure or harassment.

For his part, the accused Rubiales gave his version of events at an earlier stage of the events, defending himself by saying that the kiss was consensual, public, and that he had asked for permission before carrying out the act to celebrate the world title.