A Spanish high court has found former football federation president Luis Rubiales guilty of kissing Spain’s women’s national team captain Jenni Hermoso without consent. The court has ordered Rubiales to pay a €10,000 fine (Ksh 1.3M) for his actions during the FIFA Women’s World Cup final between Spain and England.

Rubiales Avoids Prison Sentence

Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for the 47-year-old, who was forced to resign following global outrage over the incident at the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney.

However, the judge ruled that the offense was of minor intensity, as there was no violence or intimidation involved. Instead, Rubiales was given a pecuniary penalty (monetary fine) rather than jail time.

“The Judge understands that, in view of the magnitude of the assault—a kiss—that it is a sporadic act of the accused, and that he does not require special rehabilitation for the crime, the pecuniary penalty must be chosen, which is less serious than the custodial sentence,” the verdict stated.

Additional Restrictions & Compensation for Hermoso

Beyond the fine, the court also banned Rubiales from coming within 200 meters of Hermoso and communicating with her for one year. He has also been ordered to pay her €3,000 in compensation.

Co-Defendants Acquitted

The court also acquitted Rubiales’ three co-defendants, who were accused of attempting to coerce Hermoso into falsely stating the kiss was consensual. The scandal overshadowed Spain’s historic victory in the Women’s World Cup.

Hermoso: ‘One of the Happiest Days Was Tainted’

During the trial, Hermoso testified that the unsolicited kiss tainted what should have been one of the happiest days of her life.

“The commotion that followed left me overwhelmed, crying, and exhausted in the following hours and days,” she told the court.

Her teammates also backed her claims, testifying that she was deeply affected by the incident.

Spain’s Government & Feminist Leaders React

Spain’s leftist government, which had pushed for Rubiales’ removal, hailed the verdict as a landmark ruling on consent.

“When there is no consent, there is assault, and that is what the judge certifies in this sentence. The victim’s word is honored, as the law stipulates, and should not be questioned,” said Equality Minister Ana Redondo.

Prominent feminist politician Irene Montero echoed the sentiment, calling the ruling a victory for women’s rights.

“Not long ago, it was unthinkable that a court would recognize a kiss without consent as a sexual assault. Feminism is changing everything: Only ‘yes’ means ‘yes’,” she stated.

Rubiales’ Future After the Verdict

Rubiales, who previously earned €675,762 annually as RFEF president, has consistently denied wrongdoing. However, the ruling further diminishes his prospects of returning to football administration.

Despite the relatively light punishment, the case has ignited a larger debate about sexism in women’s football, bringing greater scrutiny to gender issues in sports leadership.

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