Former Spain women's soccer coach Jorge Vilda told a court on Wednesday that he attempted to persuade player Jenni Hermoso to downplay the kiss on the mouth his boss Luis Rubiales gave her at the 2023 World Cup but denied he had tried to strong-arm her.

MADRID (AP) — Jorge Vilda, the former coach of Spain women’s soccer team, told a judge on Wednesday that ex-soccer federation president Luis Rubiales did not ask him to put pressure on Jenni Hermoso following the outcry that erupted after Rubiales kissed the player.

San Fernando de Henares, Spain - After the statement of Luis Rubiales in the trial for the kiss he gave Jenni Hermoso at the end of the final of the 2023 World Cup, this Wednesday comes the turn of the then coach of the women's national team and two other former executives of the Federation accused of coercing the player to say that she consented.