:quality(70):focal(1975x1622:1985x1632)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/liberation/66FLU7MNERGA3I5XYEIXZVG36Q.jpg "Rubiales Sexual Assault: Appeal Ruling – Liberation")
The scene, which took place in front of the cameras around the world, was indeed a sexual assault. The Spanish justice confirmed on appeal this Wednesday, June 25, the conviction of Luis Rubiales to a fine of 10,800 euros for the kiss imposed on the player Jenni Hermoso in August 2023. The court of appeal of the national hearing judged “Correct” the qualification of facts in “Sexual assault” During the trial judgment, she said in her decision, confirming that there had been no consent in this kiss imposed by the former number 1 of the Spanish football federation.
Luis Rubiales was sentenced on February 14 to 10,800 euros fine for sexual assault, but relaxed with the offense of coercion. The Court of Appeal also confirmed this Wednesday the ban for Rubials to approach Jenni Hermoso within a radius of 200 meters, as well as that of communicating with it for a year. The court also rejected the other appeals filed by the prosecution, which had denounced the “Partiality” of the judge and claimed a new trial, and by Jenni Hermoso.
The prosecutor had requested at first instance two and a half years in prison against Rubial Luis for sexual assault and for pressures then exerted on the player to alleviate the scandal.
The former president of the Spanish Football Federation, 47, had seen his career suddenly end in the wake of the victory of his country in the final of the Women’s World Cup in Sydney, on August 20, 2023. That evening, in front of the whole world, he had taken with two hands the head of the attacker of the “Roja” Jennifer Hermoso, before kissing him by surprise.
Faced with the indignation aroused by this gesture, the former strong man of Spanish football had first refused to resign for “A little kiss consented”, denouncing a supposed “False feminism” And ensuring that he had obtained authorization from the player before kissing her. She finally filed a complaint against him.
During his trial, he had camped on his positions, saying “Absolutely sure” that Jenni Hermoso had granted this kiss. Opposite, the latter, erected as a symbol of the fight against sexism in sport, had described the “Innumerable” Pressures suffered after this gesture to stifle the scandal.
He had ended up resigning in September 2023, two weeks after the facts. Since a reform of the Spanish Criminal Code, an undisputed kiss may be considered as a sexual assault, a criminal category bringing together all types of sexual violence.
Key Data and Timeline of events
Too provide a clear understanding of the case against Luis Rubiales, here’s a concise table summarizing the critical dates, accusations, and outcomes:
| Event | Date | Details | Outcome |
| ——————————————- | ————– | —————————————————————————————————————————————— | ——————————————————————————————————————————————————– |
| women’s World Cup Final | August 20, 2023 | Luis Rubiales kisses Jenni Hermoso without consent during the victory festivity. | Sparked immediate controversy and international condemnation.|
| Initial Reactions and Denials | august 2023 | Rubiales initially downplayed the incident, claiming consent and labeling criticism as “false feminism”. Hermoso publicly stated she did not consent. | Intensified the backlash, with calls for Rubiales to resign growing. |
| Rubiales’ Dismissal | September 2023 | Rubiales was forced to resign after initially refusing to do so | Showed there was no consent of the player to the scandalous act of Rubiales. |
| First Instance Ruling | February 14, 2024 | Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault. | Fined €10,800 and served a ban from approaching Jenni Hermoso/interaction. |
| Appeal Court Decision | June 25,2025 | The court of Appeal affirmed the sexual assault conviction.| Confirmed all sentences of the first instance. |
Note: This table summarizes the key events leading to the final judicial decision and offers a snapshot of this controversial situation.
SEO-kind FAQ Section
below is an FAQ section designed to address common questions, boosting the article’s visibility and engagement:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Luis Rubiales Case
Q: What happened in the Luis Rubiales case?
A: The case centers around a non-consensual kiss Luis rubiales, then-president of the Spanish Football Federation, gave to player Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women’s World Cup celebration. This action led to legal proceedings, with Rubiales ultimately convicted of sexual assault [[1]] [[2]].
Q: What was the Spanish court’s ruling?
A: The Spanish justice system confirmed the conviction this Wednesday, June 25, of Luis Rubiales and confirmed the sentence given in February of the same year for sexual assault. he was fined, and a restraining order prevents him from contacting Jenni Hermoso [[3]].
Q: What is the legal definition of “sexual assault” in Spain?
A: In spain, due to a reform of the Criminal Code, an unsolicited kiss without consent can be considered sexual assault, encompassing various forms of sexual violence [[1]] [[2]] [[3]].
Q: What were Jenni Hermoso’s actions following the incident?
A: Jenni Hermoso immediately stated that the kiss was without consent.
Q: What was Rubiales’ initial response to the incident?
A: Initially, Rubiales dismissed the incident as a simple gesture.
Q: what sanctions did Luis Rubiales face as a result of the case?
A: Aside from his conviction, there were also personal sanctions, including a ban from approaching Jenni Hermoso within a 200-meter area and communicating with her for one year.
Q: What is the long-term impact of the Rubiales case on Spanish football?
A: The case has highlighted issues related to sexism in sports, promoting discussions on consent and the need for structural changes within sports organizations to prevent similar incidents.
