The 2023 Women’s World Cup final was a celebration for Spain.
However, an unexpected incident occurred that impacted the occasion.
The determination regarding the incident has been finalized.
Former Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales was convicted on Thursday of sexually assaulting player Jenni Hermoso by kissing her without her consent following the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
Rubiales stated that Hermoso consented to the kiss; however, she denied giving her approval.
Spain’s High Court imposed a fine exceeding €10,000 ($10,434.00) for the offense but acquitted Rubiales of the charge of coercion. The former executive stated to Reuters that he intends to appeal, adding, “I am going to keep fighting.
Prosecutors sought a prison sentence for Rubiales in a case that overshadowed Spain’s first Women’s World Cup victory and sparked discussions about gender equality in women’s football and broader Spanish society.
Judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto stated that he concurred with Hermoso’s testimony indicating that she did not give consent, leading to the conclusion that Rubiales was guilty of sexual assault.
However, he said that while this was “always reproachable,” the case involved a minor degree of severity due to the absence of violence or intimidation.
As it involved a kiss rather than a more serious action, Rubiales should be spared time in prison, Fernandez-Prieto said.
“The pecuniary penalty must be chosen, which is less serious than the custodial sentence,” he said in his ruling.
Rubiales was acquitted of the charge of coercion related to his handling of the incident involving Hermoso’s kiss during the awards ceremony following the final in Sydney.
Three former members of the Spanish federation—former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, men’s national team sports director Albert Luque, and head of marketing Ruben Rivera—were also found not to have committed coercion.
The decision prohibited Rubiales from approaching within 200 meters of Hermoso and from engaging in any form of communication with her for a period of one year. Additionally, a fine of €20 per day was imposed, totaling over an 18-month duration.
During the trial, Hermoso said the unsolicited kiss from her boss and the commotion that followed “tainted one of the happiest days of my life,” while her teammates testified it left her overwhelmed, crying and exhausted in the following hours and days.
Hermoso’s lawyer told Reuters it was up to his client to decide if “she wants to keep up the fight” after Rubiales avoided a prison sentence.
The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE), which was a private prosecutor in the case, said the ruling was “a significant step forward in the defence of women’s rights and in the fight for a sport free of abuse and inequality.”
Photo/RollingStone/X
Information from Reuters contributed to this coverage
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