Former Spanish soccer boss Luis Rubiales found guilty of kissing player Jenni Hermoso without consent

Former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chief Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexually assaulting Women’s World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso by kissing her on the lips during the on-field medal ceremony following Spain’s victory in 2023.

Former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chief Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexually assaulting Women’s World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso by kissing her on the lips during the on-field medal ceremony following Spain’s victory in 2023. The Spanish High Court set a fine of $11,270 (€10,800) – to be paid as $21 daily instalments across 18-months – but acquitted former soccer boss Rubiales of coercion. Prosecutors had been seeking a two-and-a-half year prison sentence for the 47-year-old, but the ruling sees him avoid any jail time. The judge opted not to sentence Rubiales to prison time as he believed the assault – which he called a “sporadic act” despite also deeming it “always reprehensible” – to be of lesser intensity according to Spanish law as there was no intimidation or violence. Rubiales was also ordered to pay $3,130 (€3,000) in compensation to Hermoso, an amount the judge said was proportionate due to the “moral damages” that had been done, and the fact that it was seen by thousands of people in the stadium and thousands watching on television. The ruling also banned Rubiales from going within a 200-meter (roughly 656 feet) radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for one year. Rubiales’ three co-defendants – who were former members of RFEF (one of whom is ex-women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda) and had been accused of attempting to coerce Hermoso into saying that she had consented to the kiss – were also acquitted.