On Thursday, February 20, a Spanish court convicted former Spanish football club owner on sexual assault, giving star striker Jenni Hermoso and fined him 10,800 euros ($11,300).
However, the court acquitted him and three others charged with coercion.
Prosecutors seek jail time for alleged pressure on players to downplay the incident forced prosecutors to seek two and a half years in prison for Rubiales (18 months for sexual assault and coercion).
He escaped prison time but was fined in the Spanish national court. He was also ordered not to be within 200 meters of Hermoso or to communicate with her for a year. Rubiales can appeal the court’s ruling.
Rubias was charged with sexual assault for kissing Hermoso in 2023 and alleged attempts to convince her to downplay the incident afterwards after Spain won the Women’s World Cup in Australia.
The global response to kiss forced Rubiales to humiliate resignation and attracted attention from the prevalence of masculinity culture and sexism.
Hermoso, 34, said on the opening day of the trial on February 3 that she felt “disrespectful” after her involuntary kiss “should not happen in any social or work environment.”
But Rubiales, 47, told the court Tuesday that he was “completely sure” Hermoso agreed to the kiss because she was on the medal that won the winner, which was broadcast live around the world and denied putting pressure on her after the incident.
He admitted that he had “made a mistake” on the podium, saying he should “play a more institutional role”, but denied that any crime had been committed.
Rubiales’ position in the stands contrasts with the resistance shown when the scandal broke down.
At the August 2023 Emergency Federation meeting, he minimized the importance of kissing and opposed resignation and “false feminism.”
Rubiales resigned in September of that year after FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors from the start of investigations into the alleged sexual assault. He has been the federal director since 2018.
Hermoso is the all-time top scorer for the Spanish women’s team, and now plays for the Mexican club’s Tiger Skins and has not been called to the national team immediately after the World Cup. New coach Montse Tome said she wanted to protect the players and denied that omitting the team was a “punishment.”
