Luis Rubiales, the disgraced former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), was found guilty of sexually assaulting player Jenni Hermoso on Thursday after forcibly kissing her after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
Although he avoided jail time, Spain’s National Court imposed a fine exceeding €10,000. Additionally, he has been ordered to stay at least 200 metres away from Hermoso and refrain from any communication with her for a year.
Rubiales retains the right to appeal the verdict.
He was acquitted of coercion charges, which stemmed from allegations that he attempted to downplay the kiss during the awards ceremony following Spain’s victory in Sydney. The incident sparked nationwide outrage and overshadowed Spain’s historic first Women’s World Cup triumph.
During the two-week trial, Rubiales maintained that Hermoso had consented to the kiss, a claim she firmly denied. ALSO READ: Rubiales ‘absolutely sure’ that Hermoso said he could kiss her.
Prosecutors had sought a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, comprising one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion. They also pushed for an 18-month prison term for three additional defendants accused of coercion.
However, the three former RFEF officials — ex-women’s team coach Jorge Vilda, men’s team sports director Albert Luque, and head of marketing Ruben Rivera — were all acquitted of coercion charges.
Hermoso had testified that she felt ‘disrespected’ by Rubiales after Spain’s World Cup victory. She also claimed she was pressured into recording a video alongside Rubiales, then the RFEF president, to minimise the controversy surrounding the kiss. ALSO READ: Hermoso: unsolicited kiss from Rubiales ‘stained one of the happiest days of my life’.
In contrast, Rubiales and the other defendants denied any attempt to pressure Hermoso, arguing that she did not initially view the kiss as significant.
Amid mounting pressure, Rubiales resigned three weeks after the scandal erupted. FIFA later banned him from football for three years. He has consistently described himself as the target of a ‘witch hunt’ led by ‘false feminists’.
During his testimony, Rubiales admitted the kiss was inappropriate for a federation president but argued it should not be classified as sexual assault.
The incident triggered widespread backlash far beyond football, becoming one of the most shameful scandals in Spanish sports history.
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