Former Spanish Football Chief Luis Rubiales Found Guilty of Sexual Assault for Unwanted Kiss on Jenni Hermoso
Luis Rubiales, former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), was found guilty of sexually assaulting Spain women’s national team star Jenni Hermoso after kissing her on the lips without her consent during the 2023 Women’s World Cup trophy ceremony.
A Spanish court ruled Thursday that Rubiales, 47, must stay at least 200 meters away from Hermoso and is banned from contacting her for a year. He was also fined €10,000 ($10,437 USD) but acquitted of coercion after being accused of pressuring Hermoso to publicly state the kiss was consensual.
Rubiales, who faced intense backlash over the incident, resigned from his position three weeks later, though he has continuously denied wrongdoing, calling himself the victim of a “witch hunt led by false feminists.”
Hermoso, 34, testified last week, describing how the kiss "stained one of the happiest days of my life." She recounted feeling “disrespected” and “unable to react” when Rubiales grabbed her face and forcibly kissed her. She later refused his request to help him clear his name, saying, "I have not been able to really live freely" since the incident.
FIFA had already banned Rubiales from soccer for three years, a sanction that will expire in 2026.
Comments