The former head of Spanish football has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a player at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.
Spain’s High Court found Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent following the country’s World Cup victory.
Hermoso had also accused Rubiales and three other football executives of trying to coerce her into saying the kiss was consensual, which the court ruled against.
Rubiales told media he plans to appeal the decision.
The kiss
Spain defeated England 1-0 to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sydney on 20 August 2023.
During a medal ceremony after the victory, Rubiales – then head of the Spanish Football Federation – took Hermoso’s head in his hands and kissed her.
Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual and took legal action against Rubiales, culminating in a criminal trial in the Spanish High Court.
The trial
As part of her criminal complaint, Hermoso alleged Rubiales and three other Spanish football executives pressured her to say the kiss was consensual.
Rubiales faced charges of sexual assault and coercion.
At trial earlier this month, Hermoso told the court Rubiales’ kiss “stained one of the happiest days of my life”.
Ruling
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Overnight, the court found Rubiales guilty of sexually assaulting Hermoso.
It ruled Rubiales kissed Hermoso in a “surprising and unexpected manner”.
In the court’s briefing, the judge gave Hermoso “full credibility” in her evidence that the kiss was not consensual and went beyond the “normal way of greeting people with whom one does not have an emotional relationship”.
The court did not find Rubiales or any of the three football executives guilty of coercion, citing a lack of evidence of violence or intimidation.
Rubiales has been fined €10,800 ($AU17,700).
He’s also banned from being within 200 metres of Hermoso or contacting her for at least a year.
Rubiales told news agency Reuters he would appeal.
Hermoso’s lawyer has also flagged she will appeal. Prosecutors had sought a jail sentence for Rubiales.
Reaction
Rubiales’ actions ignited a wave of protests across Spain in 2023.
The international body representing football players said the court’s ruling showed Rubiales’ behaviour was “unacceptable”.
Spanish Equality Minister Ana Redondo said: “When there is no consent, there is aggression, and that is what the judge certifies in this sentence.”
