logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
28m 36s

The World Cup kiss that's gripping Spain

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Luis Rubiales, the former president of Spain's football federation, is on trial accused of sexual assault for kissing the player Jenni Hermoso at the 2023 World Cup medal ceremony.

Hermoso told the trial last week that the incident "stained one of the happiest days of my life". Rubiales, who has denied any wrongdoing, is expected to give evidence in the coming days.

Host Lucy Hockings speaks to The Global Story's very own Sergi Forcada Freixas about how the incident stole headlines from the World Cup win. And our gender and identity correspondent Sofia Bettiza explains how the case has fuelled a conversation on sexual assault and consent that has been simmering in Spain for years.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran and Beth Timmins

Sound engineers: Stephen Bailey

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins

Up next
Nov 21
Is there a genocide of white South Africans as Trump claims?
<p>The US is essentially boycotting this weekend’s G20 summit in South Africa over accusations that the white Afrikaners are ‘being killed and slaughtered’ and that white farmers are having their land ‘illegally confiscated. The South African government say the claims are "widely ... Show More
31m 37s
Nov 20
What is Sudan’s war really about?
<p>** This episode contains some very distressing details, including of killings, sexual violence and the experiences of children in war** </p><p>More than 150,000 people have been killed and about 12 million have been forced from their homes since Sudan's civil war began in 2023 ... Show More
26m 37s
Nov 19
The oil lobbyist who tried to sink the first big climate deal
<p>The American lawyer, oil lobbyist and master strategist Don Pearlman is said to have chain-smoked his way through almost every UN climate gathering from the early 1990s until his death in 2005. </p><p>Some of those who saw Pearlman operate in Kyoto, where the first legally bin ... Show More
26m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
Argentina wins the FIFA World Cup!
<p>The Qatar 2022 World Cup has ended with a spectacular final that culminated in a penalty shootout and a win for Argentina. It's been an eventful tournament: from the FIFA president’s questionable opening speech, to the sudden death of three journalists.This year was also the S ... Show More
18m 46s
Dec 2019
Blood Red Qatar: Reaction to Jurgen Klopp and James Milner previewing Monterrey semi-final clash and significance of FIFA Club World Cup for
The Blood Red podcast is here, but with somewhat of a twist - coming from Qatar. Ian Doyle is joined in Doha by The Athletic's James Pearce and Carl Markham from PA Media. The guys talk through there stay so far out in Qatar before getting to the matter in hand, the FIFA Club Wor ... Show More
36m 54s
Feb 2025
US Rejects UN Resolution on Russian Aggression
In today’s episode, we cover Hamas returning dead hostages to Israel, China’s London super embassy, and the conviction of former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales.Watch TLDR’s latest videos here:https://youtu.be/FBISTeQvay0?si=plG3QmnkvG-HdnoVhttps://youtu.be/zytIHb ... Show More
6m 36s
Sep 2020
Maria’s Big Book
Julio is joined by guest co-host and ITT All-Star Terrell Jermaine Starr to talk with our very own Maria Hinojosa about her newly released book, Once I was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America. They dive into the history of U.S. immigration policy— drawing parallels t ... Show More
27m 54s
Nov 2022
Blowing the whistle on World Cup corruption
Qatar's 'sports-washing' World Cup has backfired in PR terms, but it's taken the heat off world football's corrupted governing body FIFA who gave it a green light in the first place. Mediawatch talks to a whistleblower who became a journalist and publisher herself to get the stor ... Show More
26m 4s
Mar 2025
The BBC Journalist Arrested in Turkey
Today, Laura and Paddy speak to Mark Lowen, the BBC journalist who was deported from Turkey after being arrested in Istanbul. Mark had been there for several days to report on the ongoing protests that were sparked by the Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest last week. He tells ... Show More
34m 22s
Aug 2024
The world after the West: Matias Spektor on Brazil
<p>Brazil is a middle-power powerhouse. The largest and most populous country in Latin America, this founding member of BRICS+ wields strong cultural, economic, and diplomatic influence among other middle powers and beyond. No assessment of non-Western powers would be complete wi ... Show More
36 m
Sep 30
Trump: Hamas has 'three to four' days to accept peace plan
President Trump says Hamas has days to accept a 20-point peace plan in Gaza or they will 'pay in hell'. Also: the search for survivors after a school collapses in Indonesia, a BBC undercover reporter investigates illegal dogfights in Europe, and the South African ambassador to Fr ... Show More
28m 11s
Sep 18
US TV host Jimmy Kimmel suspended over Charlie Kirk shooting comments
The American television network ABC has suspended late-night talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel, indefinitely over comments he made about the shooting of the right-wing influencer, Charlie Kirk. The announcement has reignited the debate about free speech in the US. Also: the latest on ... Show More
27m 34s