Former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent during Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup celebrations. While Spain’s High Court handed him a fine of over €10,000 (£8,275), he avoided jail time after being acquitted of coercion charges.
The controversial moment, broadcast worldwide, occurred as Spain’s women’s team received their medals in Sydney. Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips—a move that triggered outrage, protests, and demands for his resignation.
Despite insisting in court that the kiss was a “spontaneous act of affection” and claiming he was “absolutely sure” Hermoso had consented, the football star refuted his claims. In her testimony, she described the moment as non-consensual, saying it “stained one of the happiest days of my life.”
Although Rubiales was cleared of sexual assault and coercion, the incident fueled a powerful movement for change in Spanish women’s football. Players rallied for equal treatment and an end to sexism in the sport.
After weeks of defiance, Rubiales finally stepped down in September 2023 following Fifa’s suspension and a formal investigation by Spanish prosecutors. The scandal may have ended his career, but it ignited a long-overdue conversation about respect and equality in women’s football.
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