Luis Rubiales Found Guilty of Sexual Assault Against Jenni Hermoso
In a significant ruling, Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, has been convicted of sexually assaulting Spanish player Jenni Hermoso. This incident occurred following the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, where Spain triumphed over England in a thrilling match held in Sydney.
Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the celebrations, leading to widespread outrage and condemnation. As a result of the court’s decision, he has been ordered to pay a fine exceeding £8,000. Although he was acquitted of the charge of coercing Hermoso into downplaying the kiss and asserting that it was consensual, he has avoided a custodial sentence, despite prosecutors initially seeking prison time.
Additionally, Rubiales is prohibited from coming within 200 meters of Hermoso for a period of one year, and he must refrain from any form of contact with her during this time. He retains the right to appeal the ruling.
Hermoso, who currently plays for Tigres in Mexico, expressed that the kiss marred “one of the happiest days” of her life, emphasizing that she “never” consented to it. In stark contrast, Rubiales has consistently claimed that the kiss was consensual, asserting in court, “I am absolutely sure that she gave me her permission. In that moment, it was something completely spontaneous.”
Following the incident, Rubiales is already serving a three-year ban from football. He resigned from his presidential position in September 2023 after initially resisting calls to step down. Furthermore, in December of the same year, FA chair Debbie Hewitt alleged that Rubiales had also kissed England defender Lucy Bronze while the Lionesses were receiving their medals.
More updates will follow…
