The former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation has been sentenced to pay a €10,800 fine to Jenni Hermoso. The Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office had requested a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
Former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales was sentenced on Thursday to pay a €10,800 fine for sexually assaulting player Jenni Hermoso by kissing her without consent during the 2023 Women's World Cup final.
The ruling by Judge José Manuel Fernández-Prieto of the National Court found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault, ordering him to pay a fine of €20 per day for 18 months. Additionally, he has been prohibited from contacting Jenni Hermoso or approaching within 200 meters of her for one year. Although the prosecution had requested a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, the court ultimately imposed only a financial penalty and restraining order.
The case dates back to August 20, 2023, when Spain won their first-ever Women’s World Cup title after defeating England 1-0 in the final at Sydney Stadium. During the medal ceremony, Rubiales forcefully grabbed Hermoso’s head and kissed her on the lips, an incident that was broadcast live to a global audience and immediately sparked widespread outrage. Initially, Rubiales dismissed the backlash, insisting that the kiss was consensual and calling the criticism a "witch hunt" fueled by what he referred to as "false feminism." However, Hermoso publicly contradicted his claims, stating that she never consented to the kiss and that she felt violated by the incident. As the controversy escalated, players from Spain’s women’s national team united in support of Hermoso, condemning the act and demanding accountability.
Rubiales was also tried for coercion, alongside former Spanish men's national team director Albert Luque, former women’s team coach Jorge Vilda, and former federation marketing director Rubén Rivera. They were accused of pressuring Hermoso in the days following the incident to publicly downplay the kiss, which the prosecution argued was an attempt to absolve Rubiales. However, the judge acquitted all four of the coercion charges, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Hermoso had been intimidated into retracting her statement.
During the trial, prosecutor Marta Durántez Gil emphasized that the kiss was non-consensual and that there was no doubt about it after reviewing the evidence. She highlighted the consistency in Hermoso’s statements and behavior in the aftermath of the incident and criticized the continued questioning of sexual assault victims in 2025, particularly when they are seen celebrating or smiling in unrelated moments. She argued that Hermoso had conflicting emotions, wanting to avoid making the incident the central focus of Spain’s historic World Cup victory, but that this did not make her any less of a victim.
Rubiales’ defense team requested his acquittal, admitting that his behavior may have been inappropriate but arguing that it was never criminal. His lawyer, Olga Tubau Martínez, stated that the case had blurred the lines between moral wrongdoing and legal punishment, claiming that the controversy surrounding the incident had led to excessive scrutiny of Rubiales. The defense argued that Hermoso had consented to the kiss, citing videos in which she was seen smiling and laughing with teammates after the match, suggesting that her demeanor was inconsistent with someone who felt violated. However, Hermoso’s legal team refuted this argument, stating that the issue was not just about consent but about the abuse of power.
Attorney Ángel Chavarría, representing Hermoso, argued that Rubiales’ actions were an example of subjugation rather than consent, emphasizing that Hermoso was in a position where she could not reject the kiss. He stated that there was no evidence that Hermoso had agreed to the act and pointed out that Rubiales had grabbed her head, preventing her from moving away, making it clear that she had no chance to escape.
Following the controversy, Rubiales resigned as RFEF president on September 10, 2023, after weeks of public and institutional pressure. FIFA later suspended him from all football-related activities on October 30, 2023. His tenure as head of the RFEF, which lasted from May 2018 to September 2023, is now under additional scrutiny due to allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement, with Spanish authorities investigating several contracts signed during his leadership.
Jenni Hermoso, along with her teammates, became a symbol in the fight against sexism and gender inequality in sports. The scandal prompted Spain’s women’s national team to demand structural reforms within the RFEF, leading to significant changes, including the removal of Jorge Vilda as head coach. The players even staged a boycott and public protests, advocating for equal treatment and protection against misconduct. The hashtag #SeAcabó ("It's Over"), launched by the players on social media, became a national movement in Spain, representing the broader fight against misogyny and sexual violence in sports.
While Rubiales’ conviction does not carry a prison sentence, the ruling serves as a legal acknowledgment of Hermoso’s lack of consent and the abuse of power involved. The case marks a turning point in the conversation around gender-based abuse in sports, highlighting the importance of accountability and sending a message that such behavior will no longer be tolerated.
