The Spanish justice confirmed on appeal this Wednesday, the conviction of the former president of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales, for a fine of 10,800 euros to kiss the player Jenni Hermoso during the victory ceremony at the World Cup in August 2023.
The court judged “correct the qualification” of the facts in “sexual assault”, during the judgment of first instance, confirming that there had been no consent for this kiss, imposed by the former president of the Spanish football federation.
The decision of February 20 also specified that he was forbidden to approach Jenni Hermoso within 200 m and communicate with her for a year.
Erected as a symbol of the fight against sexism in sport, Jenni Hermoso had also reaffirmed at the opening of the trial, on February 3, having never given his consent and assured that she had felt “little respected” as a woman. The best ringer in the selection had also described the “countless” pressures suffered after this gesture to stifle the scandal.
Luis Rubiales had been relaxed with regard to these accusations of pressure on the player and her entourage. The prosecution had initially requested two and a half years in prison against him, a year for sexual assault and a year and a half for the pressures exerted.
