Luis de la Fuente accused of 'false testimony' by the Prosecutor's Office during testimony

Luis de la Fuente has testified as a witness before the judge in the investigation into Rubiales's kiss to Jenni Hermoso. An event that occurred after the 2023 Women's World Cup final.

As the men's team coach, De la Fuente attended the final and was part of the delegation of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. This is what led him to be summoned to testify.

During his testimony, which took place in a highly tense environment, the coach answered the questions posed by the Prosecutor's Office. They began the session by inquiring about his connection with Jenni Hermoso. "The first time I had contact with Jennifer Hermoso was at the Ballon d'Or gala a couple of months ago," he stated.

Additionally, he made it clear that during his trip he didn't coincide with Luis Rubiales on the same means of transport:

"We traveled with the presidents of the territorial federations. If my memory serves me right, Luis Rubiales wasn't traveling with us."

At a specific moment during the statement, De la Fuente was asked by the Prosecutor's Office about the meeting he had with Rubiales after the kiss to Jenni Hermoso.

"I attended the meeting in Luis Rubiales's office to discuss only matters within my competence." However, the prosecutor's office wasn't satisfied with this reply, and they reproached him, even accusing him of "false testimony."

This prompted the judge's reaction, assuring Luis de la Fuente that he was obliged to tell the truth. But he pointed out that neither he nor the Prosecutor's Office knows "if he's lying." Therefore, he encouraged them that if they are sure it's a lie, they should file a complaint for false testimony.

Who is the prosecutor in the Rubiales case?

The Deputy Prosecutor of the National Court Prosecutor's Office, Marta Durántez Gil, was appointed in 2022. She took office in a ceremony presided over by the State Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz. And it was held at the National Court.

In García Ortiz's speech, he highlighted that Marta Durántez is an exceptional and versatile jurist and a magnificent colleague. He noted that she demonstrated her deep conviction in the principles of justice focused on citizenship and public service. He indicated that she was committed to the defense of human rights and victims.

The truth is that the rapport between García Ortiz and Marta Durántez, the candidate, has been undeniable. Both come from Galicia. While García held the Area Prosecutor's Office of Santiago de Compostela, Durántez was for 18 years a prosecutor at the Provincial Prosecutor's Office of Pontevedra.

She left that position in 2020, when Dolores Delgado was promoted to the direction of the Public Ministry. Something that happened after García became the head of the Technical Secretariat, he recruited her for this department.

The truth is that the Castilian-Leonese landed in Pontevedra, where she served from 2002 until 2020. First in Vilagarcía and later as Coordinating Prosecutor and Delegate Prosecutor of Occupational Accidents. And prosecutor assigned to the Gender Violence section in the Provincial Prosecutor's Office of Pontevedra.