Former Spanish Football Chief Luis Rubiales Penalized for Non-consensual World Cup Celebration Kiss
Body: Luis Rubiales, the ex-head of Spain's football federation, has been convicted of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her permission. The Spanish High Court has imposed a fine of €10,800 (£8,942) on Rubiales but cleared him of allegations of coercion, where he supposedly tried to force Hermoso to publicly claim the kiss was given willingly.
The incident occurred as the Spanish players were being awarded their medals after triumphing over England in the 2023 World Cup held in Sydney. During the ceremony, Rubiales caught Hermoso by surprise, grabbing her head and planting a kiss on her lips.
This action sparked widespread protests and demands for Rubiales' resignation. Rubiales has voiced his intent to challenge the verdict.
In addition to the fine, the court's ruling forbids Rubiales from approaching within 200 meters of Hermoso or communicating with her for a year.
Three of Rubiales' ex-colleagues were also tried, suspected of aiding and abetting in the alleged coercion. These individuals include Jorge Vilda, the coach of the World Cup champions, Rubén Rivera, the former marketing head of the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF), and Albert Luque, a past sporting director. All three were found not guilty on these charges.
The prosecution earlier sought a jail term for Rubiales. Last week, he testified that he was "entirely convinced" Hermoso had consented to the kiss, which he portrayed as an "expression of affection" and a "completely spontaneous act".
Hermoso refuted Rubiales' claims earlier this month, insisting she had not permitted the kiss and that the episode had marred "one of the happiest days of my life". Speaking in a Madrid court, she emphasized, "My boss was kissing me, and this shouldn't happen in any social or work setting." She added, "A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so."
The incident was broadcast to millions of television viewers and witnessed by a packed stadium as the Spanish women's team celebrated their 2023 World Cup victory. The resulting controversy fueled a "Me Too"-inspired movement in Spanish women's football, aimed at challenging sexism and advocating for equality with their male counterparts.
Rubiales stepped down in September 2023, after weeks of defying calls for his resignation. His resignation came after FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors initiated an investigation.