Spanish court finds Rubiales guilty of sexual assault, fines him €10,800

A Spanish court on Thursday found former football chief Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for forcibly kissing star forward Jenni Hermoso, sentencing him to a fine of 10,800 euros ($11,300).

However, Rubiales and three other defendants were acquitted of coercion charges. Prosecutors had initially sought a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence—one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion—alleging that Rubiales pressured Hermoso to downplay the incident.

The case stemmed from Rubiales’ actions after Spain’s victory in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia, where he kissed Hermoso without consent during the medal ceremony. The incident sparked international outrage, highlighting persistent sexism in sports and ultimately forcing Rubiales to resign in disgrace.

Testifying on February 3, Hermoso, 34, said she felt “disrespected” by the non-consensual kiss, stating that such behaviour “should not happen in any social or work setting.” Rubiales, 47, defended his actions in court, claiming he was “totally sure” Hermoso had consented and denying any coercion. He admitted to making a “mistake” but insisted no crime had been committed.

His courtroom demeanor was a stark contrast to his initial response to the scandal. In an emergency federation meeting in August 2023, Rubiales defiantly dismissed calls for his resignation and decried “false feminism.” However, in September, he stepped down after FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors launched an investigation.

Hermoso, Spain’s all-time top scorer and currently playing for Mexican club Tigres, was controversially left out of the national squad immediately after the World Cup. New Spain coach Montse Tomé defended the decision, claiming it was meant to protect the player, not punish her.