Former Spanish football chief found guilty of sexually assaulting footballer Jenni Hermoso

Spain’s high court has found former Spanish football head Luis Rubiales guilty of sexually assaulting the footballer Jenni Hermoso by kissing her on the lips without consent after the team’s victory in the 2023 World Cup final in Australia.

He was told to pay a fine worth over 10,000 euros and was banned from approaching the player. But the court has acquitted Rubiales of coercion.

As Spain’s players received their medals after defeating England in Sydney to win the 2023 World Cup, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips.

The incident triggered protests and calls for Rubiales’s resignation.

Prosecutors had demanded a prison sentence for Rubiales, who last week told a court he was “absolutely sure” Hermoso had given her consent before he kissed her.

He described the kiss as an “act of affection”, adding that in the moment it was “something completely spontaneous”.

In her testimony earlier this month, Hermoso insisted that she had not given Rubiales permission and that the incident had “stained one of the happiest days of my life”.

Rubiales was accused of sexual assault and of trying coerce Hermoso into saying the kiss had been consensual, a charge he has been acquitted of.

The incident was witnessed by millions of television viewers and an entire stadium after the Spanish women’s team won the 2023 World Cup.