Former Spain FA boss Luis Rubiales found guilty, fined for World Cup kiss incident

Luis Rubiales, the former head of Spain's football federation, has been convicted of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent, and he faces a fine of EUR10,800 (PS8,942) as decreed by the High Court of Spain.

While Rubiales was acquitted of charges related to coercion-specifically, allegations that he attempted to pressure Hermoso into claiming the kiss was consensual-the ruling did impose significant restrictions on his behaviour towards her.

The court has prohibited Rubiales from approaching Hermoso within 200 meters and from communicating with her for one year.

The kiss occurred during the medal ceremony following Spain's victory over England in the 2023 World Cup, where Rubiales famously took Hermoso by the head and kissed her lips. The incident sparked widespread protests and calls for his resignation.

In a trial that included three of Rubiales's former colleagues-World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda, former head of marketing Ruben Rivera, and ex-sporting director Albert Luque-these individuals were acquitted of involvement in any alleged coercion related to the incident. Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for Rubiales, who maintained in court that he believed Hermoso had consented to the kiss. He characterized it as a "spontaneous act of affection."

However, Hermoso's testimony contradicted this assertion, citing the kiss as something that "stained one of the happiest days of my life."