Former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales has been found guilty over kissing Jenni Hermoso without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final in 2023.
Spain’s High Court has also ordered Rubiales to pay a fine worth more than €10,000 (£8,274) but he was acquitted for coertion, woth presecutors demanding a prison sentence for the 47-year-old.
World Cup winner Hermoso told the court that “never” agreed to the former Spanish football chief kissing her on the lips – and the moment “tainted one of the happiest days” of her life.
Rubiales was accused of sexual assault and afterwards attempting to coerce Hermoso, who is Spain’s all-time top goalscorer, into declaring the kiss had been consensual.
He denied the charges, claiming the kiss had been mutually consentual and occured during a “moment of jubilation” as Hermoso recieved her winner’s medal in Australia.
The controversial incident overshadowed Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in Australia in what was their first major international honour.
It provided a tipping point for what is described as a “Me Too” movement for Spain’s female players to expose sexism and achieve parity with their male colleagues.
