Luis Rubiales to Appeal Conviction for Forcibly Kissing Footballer Jenni Hermoso
Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, is planning to appeal his conviction and €10,800 fine for forcibly kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso, his lawyer has confirmed.
Rubiales was convicted of sexual assault by Spain’s Audiencia Nacional in February, following an incident at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final where he kissed Hermoso without her consent during the medal ceremony. The court found the kiss to be non-consensual, leading to Rubiales’ conviction and fine.
While Rubiales was acquitted of a coercion charge related to pressuring Hermoso to downplay the incident, both the prosecution and defence have challenged the ruling. Prosecutors sought a harsher sentence, including a possible two and a half year jail term, but the court upheld the original verdict.
Despite the appeals, the court reiterated that Hermoso had clearly expressed her discomfort during the incident and in her testimony, with the support of her teammates. The judges emphasized that the kiss was not consensual and was not a common or acceptable practice.
Rubiales’s lawyer, Olga Tubau, has stated that they will be taking the case to Spain’s Supreme Court for further review.
The court also upheld a one-year restraining order preventing Rubiales from approaching Hermoso or contacting her in any way. Former national team coach Jorge Vilda and football officials Albert Luque and Ruben Rivera, who were also implicated in the case, were acquitted of coercion charges.
Amid the scandal, Rubiales was forced to resign from his position and received a three-year ban from FIFA. The incident sparked discussions about gender issues in sports and led to Hermoso becoming a prominent figure in the fight against sexism.
Separately, Rubiales is facing allegations of financial misconduct in relation to the transfer of the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. He has denied these accusations as false.
