Luis Rubiales discovered responsible of sexual assault kiss on Jenni Hermoso at World Cup
Ex-Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been found guilty over kissing player Jenni Hermoso without consent after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
Rubiales is on trial for sexual assault for the kiss on Hermoso’s lips in the presentation ceremony at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
He and three other former federation officials are also accused of coercion for trying to convince Ms Hermoso to downplay the kiss that sparked outrage in Spain and marred the celebrations of the team’s first World Cup title.
Spain’s High Court has ordered Rubiales, who was acquitted of coercion, to pay a fine of more than €10,000 (£8,274).
Following Spain’s victory in the 2023 final, Rubiales’ kiss overshadowed the team’s triumph and sparked national and international backlash. The 47-year-old subsequently resigned as head of the federation.
(Image: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
Rubiales always insisted the kiss on Hermoso’s lips was consensual and happened in a “moment of jubilation”. While Hermoso repeatedly claimed the kiss by Rubiales was not consensual.
Rubiales’ defence team called for his acquittal on both charges. “There was no sexual intent by Rubiales,” defence lawyer Olga Tubau said.
“After everything that has been shown, he should be acquitted. If you consider that the accusation’s hypothesis is reasonable, I believe that the objections to the accusation’s reasoning are also reasonable. I think there are objective doubts that need to be taken into consideration.”
(Image: Thomas COEX / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)
Hermoso’s lawyer, Angel Chavarria, cited all the evidence that he felt implicated Rubiales, saying: “We can see the images of the sexual assault. There is no margin for reaction. Hermoso never heard him ask for a kiss. She did not agree to it.”
The 34-year-old footballer told the High Court earlier this month that she “felt disrespected” and had “never” agreed to the kiss.
“I didn’t hear or understand anything,” she said. “The next thing he did was to grab me by the ears and kiss me on the mouth. I knew I was being kissed by my boss and that should not happen in any social or work environment.
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“I think it was a moment that tainted one of the happiest days of my life. All this meant I couldn’t enjoy at all being a world champion after I landed back in Madrid.”
Rubiales was banned from all football-related activities for three years by FIFA in 2023. He claims he was the victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists”.
