Former Spanish Football President Luis Rubiales Found Guilty of Sexual Assault Against Player Jenni Hermoso
Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, has been convicted of sexually assaulting footballer Jenni Hermoso by kissing her on the lips after Spain's women's team won the World Cup. Rubiales has been sentenced to pay a fine exceeding 10,000 euros and is prohibited from coming within 200 meters of Hermoso for one year, along with a ban on any contact for the same duration. This incident overshadowed the team’s triumph in August 2023, leading to a national and international dialogue on sexism and consent, and unfortunately, it resulted in Hermoso receiving death threats, which ultimately compelled Rubiales to resign from his position.
At 47, Rubiales was accused of sexual assault as well as coercing Hermoso to minimize what had occurred after the widely publicized kiss. Although prosecutors sought a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence—one year for the assault and an additional 18 months for alleged coercion—Rubiales was acquitted of the coercion charge. He has consistently claimed that the kiss was consensual, stating in court, "I am absolutely sure that she gave me her permission. It was something completely spontaneous."
During the proceedings, three other individuals who were implicated in allegedly pressuring Hermoso to declare the kiss consensual—the former head coach of the women’s national team, Jorge Vilda; the former sporting director of the Spanish Football Federation, Albert Luque; and the federation's ex-marketing chief, Rubén Rivera—were all acquitted of coercion.
Hermoso's testimony marked a pivotal moment in the trial. She asserted that she never consented to being kissed by Rubiales, stressing that he did not seek her permission. "I felt it was totally out of place. I then realized my boss was kissing me, which shouldn’t happen in any social or workplace setting," she recounted. Hermoso went on to describe the experience as deeply disrespectful, affecting not only her but her family as well. "One of the happiest days of my life was tarnished. I think it’s very important for me to say that I never sought, much less expected, this to happen. It was a lack of respect."
Reflecting on the incident, Hermoso noted the long-term repercussions on her life, saying, "I have spent years fighting to win titles for my team like the World Cup, but everything that has happened means that I haven't been able to enjoy it since the moment I set foot back in Madrid. My life changed at that moment. I’m a world champion, but it seems that even to this day, my life has been on standby. I honestly haven’t been able to live freely."
Rubiales did acknowledge that he made an error in judgment during the incident, yet maintained his stance that the kiss was consensual. "It's obvious I made a mistake; it was spontaneous. I behaved like a sportsperson, like I was one more member of the team. I should have been more coldblooded and adopted a more institutional role," he testified.
Rubiales denied attempts at coercing Hermoso into issuing a statement downplaying the incident, insisting that he only suggested a joint statement to mitigate the situation. However, the federation released a statement on Hermoso's behalf, which she found troubling as it implied her participation in something she didn't want.
Witnesses also spoke on the matter, including Hermoso’s brother, Rafael, who recounted that Vilda had requested him to convince his sister to record a video in which she would state she was unbothered by the kiss. Hermoso’s teammate, Misa Rodríguez, also testified, revealing that Hermoso had been under immense pressure and was visibly upset after Rubiales spoke to her during the flight home.
The prosecutor, Marta Durántez Gil, emphasized that the evidence against Rubiales was compelling, stating, "It was an unwanted kiss. After the examination during the trial, there is no reasonable doubt about that."
Initially, Rubiales had attempted to dismiss the ensuing backlash as a fabrication, labeling critics as "idiots" and "stupid people." However, the outrage over the incident—coupled with his inappropriate behavior of grabbing his crotch next to Spain's Queen Letizia and her daughter during the trophy reception—led to Fifa provisionally suspending him, with increasing calls for his resignation. In light of the situation and criticism, Rubiales eventually stepped down, a decision that echoed the growing societal demand for accountability in instances of sexual misconduct.
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