Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales convicted of sexually assaulting player Jennifer Hermoso at the 2023 Women's World Cup awards ceremony, fined in 18-month installments.
Luis Rubiales was fined $11,270 (€10,800), to be paid in installments of $21 a day over 18 months. Prosecutors had asked for a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for the 47-year-old, but the court acquitted him of the coercion charge and ordered him to serve no jail time.
The judge decided not to sentence Luis Rubiales to prison because he considered the attack, described as a "momentary act" but "reprehensible", to be a lesser degree under Spanish law because it did not involve threats or violence.
The former president of the Spanish Football Federation was also ordered to pay Jennifer Hermoso $3,130 (€3,000) in compensation for the "moral damage" she suffered. The offence took place at the 2023 Women's World Cup awards ceremony after Spain's victory, which was witnessed by thousands of people in the stadium and on television.
The court also banned Luis Rubiales from coming within 200 meters of Jennifer Hermoso and from contacting her for a year. Three accomplices of Luis Rubiales, a former RFEF member (including former national women's team coach Jorge Vilda), accused of trying to force Jennifer Hermoso to say she had consented to the kiss, were also acquitted.
The incident overshadowed Spain's first women's World Cup victory and had a serious impact on Jennifer Hermoso's life. "I know I was kissed by my boss and that should not have happened in any social or work environment," Jennifer Hermoso said on the first day of her trial in Madrid.
"I think it was a moment that tarnished one of the happiest days of my life. To this day, it seems like my life is on hold. Honestly, I have not lived freely," she added.
Luis Rubiales, who has since resigned as president of the federation, said on 11 February that he had asked Jennifer Hermoso's permission before kissing her. The player said she did not consent to the request. The aftermath of the incident led to protests across Spain and sparked a debate about the culture of misogyny in sport, as well as in Spanish society in general.
Former president Luis Rubiales became the center of attention on the medal podium after the 2023 Women's World Cup final on the evening of August 20, 2023. He had a controversial celebration with striker Jennifer Hermoso when he hugged and kissed her on the lips. The video of Mr. Luis Rubiales kissing the Spanish female player went viral and this official was criticized endlessly. A few months later, he had to resign and was sued by Jennifer Hermoso.