Luis Rubiales has been fined more than €10,000 ($11,400) after being found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso after Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup — but he will not go to prison.
The prosecution had requested a one-year prison sentence if the former head of the Spanish football federation was found guilty of sexual assault. The ruling from Spain’s High Court bans Rubiales from going within 200 metres of Hermoso, and from communicating with her for one year.
Since Rubiales kissed Hermoso as the players received their winners’ medals in Sydney on August 20, 2023, he has maintained that the kiss was consensual. Hermoso has consistently maintained she did not give consent and testified to that effect in court.
The 47-year-old and three other RFEF employees — the former Spain women’s coach Jorge Vilda, the former Newcastle United forward and ex-RFEF sporting director Luque and former marketing director Ruben Rivera — have been acquitted of the charge of coercion.
The prosecution had alleged that the four men, who denied any wrongdoing, had pressured Hermoso into supporting Rubiales’ version of what happened, and requested 18-month prison sentences if they were found guilty.
Rubiales and the three co-accused stood trial earlier in February over a two-week period, as Judge Jose Manuel Clemente Fernandez-Prieto heard testimonies from Hermoso, her Spain team-mates, her family, her friends, the four defendants, the current head coach of the Spain women’s team and a number of other employees at the Spanish football federation (RFEF).
The decision of the High Court can be appealed before the criminal chamber of Spain’s Audiencia Nacional.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Spain, International Football, UK Women’s Football, Women’s Euros, Women’s World Cup
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