Luis Rubiales was found guilty of sexually assaulting Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal ceremony
Luis Rubiales, the former head of Spanish football, has been fined €10,800 ($11,300) for kissing Jenni Hermoso without her consent at a 2023 medal presentation. He will not face imprisonment.
On Thursday, Spain’s High Court determined that Rubiales, 47, committed sexual assault by forcibly kissing Hermoso, 34, on the lips after Spain’s victory in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
He and his three co-defendants were found not guilty of coercion regarding allegations that they pressured Hermoso to publicly say the kiss was consensual.
In addition to the fine, Rubiales is barred from coming within 200 meters of Hermoso or contacting her for a year.
Despite prosecutors seeking a combined two-and-a-half-year sentence for both the coercion and sexual assault charges, the former football executive avoided a prison sentence.
The judge explained the relatively light sentence was due to the assessment that the assault, while “reprehensible,” was an “sporadic act” lacking intimidation or violence.
Rubiales has maintained that the kiss was consensual. His lawyers argued that even if it wasn’t, it shouldn’t be considered sexual assault. Rubiales, who was compelled to resign from the Spanish Football Federation soon after the incident, has indicated his intention to appeal the verdict.
Hermoso has insisted that the kiss was not consensual, stating that it was “a moment that tainted one of the happiest days of my life,” and that she did not “live freely” until the verdict was delivered.
Video footage of the medal ceremony shows Rubiales enthusiastically thanking and celebrating his team members, hugging and kissing many of them on the cheek. However, Hermoso, Spain’s all-time leading scorer, appeared to be the only one he kissed on the lips.
The controversy surrounding the incident ignited a heated debate about sexism and misogyny in sports and fueled the ‘MeToo’ movement in Spain.
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