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Date Published: 20/02/2025

Luis Rubiales convicted of sexual assault over Jenni Hermoso kiss

The former president of the RFEF has been fined for non-consensual kiss on Jenni Hermoso

Luis Rubiales has been sentenced for his controversial kiss on Jenni Hermoso following the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

After nine intense court sessions, Judge José Manuel Clemente Fernández-Prieto ruled that Rubiales committed sexual assault and imposed an 18-month fine of €20 per day, amounting to approximately €10,800. However, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) will not serve a prison sentence.

Alongside Rubiales, three other defendants – former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, former director of football Albert Luque, and ex-RFEF marketing head Rubén Rivera – were acquitted of coercion charges.

The prosecution had initially sought a prison term of two years and six months for Rubiales, but the judge opted for a financial penalty instead. Additionally, Rubiales has been banned from approaching Jenni Hermoso within a 200-metre radius and is prohibited from contacting her for one year.

The trial saw around 20 witnesses testify, with some supporting Hermoso’s claims while others defended Rubiales. Spanish football stars Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes backed Hermoso’s account, while a lip-reading expert claimed Rubiales had asked for permission before the kiss.

Hermoso, in her statement, described the incident: “We hugged, I told him ‘what a mess’ and then he jumped up and said ‘We won this World Cup thanks to you’. The next thing was his hands on my ears and then the kiss.”

Other testimonies, such as that of Miguel García Caba (RFEF’s former head of Integrity) and Pablo García Cuervo (ex-director of communications), provided further insight into the events.

Rafa Hermoso, the player’s brother, also played a key role in the trial. He testified about alleged pressure from Jorge Vilda: “He said that my sister was of a certain age, that she had a career, and if she cooperated, things would go well for her. The doors of the Federation would be open, but if not, he didn’t know what would happen.”

In his testimony, Rubiales maintained that the kiss was consensual: “She squeezed me very hard under the armpits, lifted me up, and when I fell down, I asked her ‘Can I give you a kiss?’ and she said ‘Ok’. That’s what happened.”

He also denied sending Vilda or anyone else to pressure Hermoso or her entourage.

The case remains a landmark moment in Spanish football, highlighting the ongoing fight for respect and equality in the sport.

Image: RFEF

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