Luis Rubiales
Source: Africa Publicity
In a landmark verdict, Spain’s High Court has found former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales guilty of kissing World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final in 2023. Rubiales has been ordered to pay a fine of over £8,274 (€10,000) but was acquitted of coercion charges.
Hermoso had repeatedly stated that the kiss was not consensual, and the incident overshadowed Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in August 2023. The scandal sparked widespread outrage and became a catalyst for Spanish female players to speak out against sexism and demand parity with their male counterparts.
During the trial, Hermoso testified that she “felt disrespected” and had “never” agreed to the kiss. She described the incident, saying Rubiales grabbed her by the ears and kissed her on the mouth, leaving her unable to enjoy her World Cup victory.
Rubiales, 47, had denied the charges, claiming the kiss was consensual and occurred in a “moment of jubilation.” However, the court’s verdict has held him accountable for his actions.
The consequences of the scandal have been severe for Rubiales, who resigned as president of the Spanish Football Federation and was banned from all football-related activities for three years by FIFA in October 2023. Rubiales has since claimed he was the victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists.”
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