Former Spanish Football Chief Luis Rubiales Found Guilty of Sexual Assault

Former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso without consent after Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup victory.

The Audiencia Nacional court imposed a €10,000 fine on Rubiales and ordered him to stay at least 200 meters away from Hermoso for one year. However, he was cleared of coercion charges, which accused him of pressuring Hermoso to downplay the incident.

The controversial kiss during the World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney sparked widespread outrage, overshadowing Spain’s historic win. While Rubiales claimed the kiss was consensual, Hermoso maintained she felt disrespected and pressured.

Three former Spanish football officials—Jorge Vilda, Albert Luque, and Ruben Rivera—who were accused of coercion, were also acquitted.

Following intense backlash, Rubiales resigned from his position three weeks after the scandal and was banned by FIFA for three years. He has repeatedly called the case a “witch hunt” and denied any wrongdoing.

The incident ignited global discussions on consent and gender equality in sports, making it one of Spain’s most notorious football scandals.