ISTANBUL
Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of kissing player Jenni Hermoso without consent after the Women’s World Cup final in 2023.
Rubiales, who was acquitted of coercion, has been ordered to pay a fine exceeding €10,000 ($10,445) as part of the court’s ruling.
In addition to the financial penalty, he has been prohibited from approaching within 200 meters (656 feet) of Hermoso for one year.
Furthermore, he is barred from making any form of contact with her for the next 12 months. Despite the verdict, Rubiales retains the right to appeal the decision before the same court.
The 47-year-old Rubiales kissed Spanish player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney after Spain’s narrow win against England.
In the wake of this incident, he asserted that he was the target of what he described as a “witch hunt” led by “false feminists.”
Although Rubiales apologized, several ministers, politicians, and non-governmental organizations in Spain criticized him and demanded his resignation.
