Madrid: A Spanish court has fined former football federation chief Luis Rubiales 10,800 euros for forcibly kissing female player Jenny Hermoso. However, he was acquitted of the charge of coercion.
According to foreign media, the High Court found Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault, but did not sentence him to prison. The court also ordered that he cannot speak to Jenny Hermoso and cannot come within 200 meters of her for a year.
The incident occurred after the 2023 World Cup final, when Rubiales kissed Jenny Hermoso on the lips on stage after Spain won. After the incident, he faced severe criticism and the matter reached the court.
Jenny Hermoso, 34, said in court that the kiss was against her will and that she felt humiliated. Her teammates also testified that she cried after the incident and felt pressured.
Rubiales, 47, argued in court that the female player had consented to the kiss. According to him, Jenny Hermoso hugged and picked him up during the celebration, after which he asked permission to kiss her. However, Rubiales later admitted that he had made a mistake and should have been more careful.
