Jenni Hermoso has been recalled to the Spain squad for the first time since the infamous kiss-gate scandal involving former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales.
After Spain triumphed over England in the World Cup final in August, Hermoso was kissed on the lips by Rubiales as he presented the players with their medals.
In the immediate aftermath Hermoso claimed that it was non-consensual, while Rubiales argued to the contrary and claimed Hermoso was lying about not giving consent.
Rubiales eventually resigned from his position, despite initially refusing to do so, although he is currently battling charges of sexual assault and coercion.
Now, following a number of changes in the Spanish national team hierarchy, Hermoso has been called up for October’s Nations League fixtures against Italy and Switzerland.
Jenni Hermoso has been recalled to the Spain squad for the first time since kiss-gate scandal
Former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips after the World Cup
Both Rubiales and manager Jorge Vilda (L) were relieved of their duties after the incident
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As well as Rubiales’ departure, controversial former manager Jorge Vilda – who was closely linked to Rubiales and offered a new contract by the 46-year-old shortly before he resigned – was also sacked from his role after the tournament.
Montse Tome, who was part of Vilda’s staff at the World Cup, was announced as his replacement and she recently oversaw victories against Sweden and Switzerland.
Hermoso was not included in Tome’s first Spain squad in September, with the manager claiming: ‘We believe the best way to protect her in this squad is this way.’
Last Friday, for the first time, Hermoso’s testimony to prosecutors, where she described her sheer ‘shock’ at the situation was revealed on Spanish TV channel, Telecinco’s, ‘Codigo 10’ show.
Reflecting on the incident as a whole, the World Cup winner said: ‘At that moment (the kiss) I did not have time to react. I don’t deserve to have lived through all this.
‘I was in shock. A historic event that has cost us our lives to achieve. At no time could I have expected that to happen.
‘Because of the adrenaline I hugged him (Rubiales), he was a trustworthy person and no one would expect that, no matter how spontaneous it was.’
Montse Tome, who was part of Vilda’s staff at the World Cup, has taken charge of the squad
She added: ‘I kept being asked to protect him (Rubiales) and help them (the Spanish FA). They tarnished my image, I felt that no one was protecting me.
‘I want to make it clear that at no time did I consent to the kiss he gave me and in no way did I seek to encourage the president. I do not tolerate my words being called into question and much less for them to invent words that I did not say.
‘It has been very difficult not being able to leave home. I had to leave Madrid so as not to have that pressure. Why do I have to be crying in a room when I haven’t done anything?’.
Rubiales came under intense scrutiny following the incident, with protests against his presidency taking place across Spain and high-profile individuals calling for him to resign.
The incident surrounding Rubiales and Hermoso marred Spain’s World Cup achievement
FIFA handed him an initial 90-day suspension, and pushed to ban him for longer, while the Spanish FA publicly apologised for his behaviour.
Hermoso lodged a formal complaint last month after claiming the kiss was not consensual and prosecutors announced they had made their formal complaint to a judge at the Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid.
Rubiales repeatedly insisted the kiss was consensual and described it as a ‘peck’.
Rubiales has also been banned from contacting Hermoso or being within 200 metres of her.