A Spanish court has found former football chief Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for the non-consensual kiss he gave to star forward Jenni Hermoso, imposing a fine of €10,800 ($11,300) on him.
However, the court cleared Rubiales and three others of coercion charges related to the case.
Prosecutors had requested a prison sentence totaling two and a half years for Rubiales—one year for sexual assault and an additional 18 months for coercion—alleging that he pressured Hermoso to minimize the incident.
Rubiales faced sexual assault allegations for kissing Hermoso in 2023 after Spain’s victory in the women’s World Cup in Australia, as well as coercion for purportedly attempting to persuade her to downplay the event afterward.
His attorney, Olga Tubau Martinez, announced on Thursday that Rubiales intends to appeal the sexual assault conviction.
“Mr. Rubiales has chosen to contest the ruling,” she stated to AFP following the trial’s verdict.
International backlash
The widespread condemnation of the incident led to Rubiales’ resignation and highlighted the ongoing issues of macho culture and sexism within the sports industry.
On February 3, the first day of the trial, Hermoso, 34, expressed feeling “disrespected” following a non-consensual kiss, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable in any social or professional environment.
In contrast, Rubiales, 47, testified in court on Tuesday that he was “totally sure” Hermoso had consented to the kiss as she approached to receive her winner’s medal, an event that was broadcast live globally. He denied exerting any pressure on her following the incident.
While he acknowledged that he “made a mistake” during the ceremony, stating he should have adopted a more formal role, he maintained that no offense had occurred.
Rubiales’ testimony differed significantly from the defiance he exhibited when the controversy first emerged. During an emergency meeting of the federation in August 2023, he downplayed the significance of the kiss and resisted calls for his resignation, criticizing what he termed “false feminism.”
He ultimately resigned in September after FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors initiated an investigation into allegations of sexual assault. Rubiales had been the head of the federation since 2018.
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Hermoso, the leading scorer for the Spain women’s national team and currently playing for Mexican club Tigres, was not selected for the national squad immediately following the World Cup. New coach Montse Tome stated that her decision was made to protect the player and denied that her exclusion was intended as a “punishment.”
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