Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has been found guilty in a case related to kissing Spain women's national team player Jennifer Hermoso, but has avoided prison time, as reported by Marca.
On Thursday, a national court convicted Rubiales of committing a sexual offense by kissing Hermoso and imposed a fine. The former RFEF president will have to pay 20 euros daily for the next 18 months and is prohibited from approaching Hermoso within 200 meters.
However, the court acquitted Rubiales, along with men's national team sporting director Alberto Luque, former women's team coach Jorge Vilda, and former RFEF marketing head Ruben Rivera, on charges of coercing the player to claim that the kiss was consensual. This ruling can be appealed in the criminal chamber of the national court.
During the award ceremony after the 2023 World Cup final, Rubiales gave Hermoso an unsolicited kiss. The player stated that she did not consent to the kiss and that it “tainted the happiest day of her life”. Rubiales was suspended from football activities for 90 days and subsequently resigned from his position within the federation. FIFA later banned him from all football-related activities for three years.
Previously, Rubiales was released from custody.
