Spanish Court Finds Ex-soccer Boss Rubiales Guilty In Kissing Case

Spains High Court has found former soccer federation boss Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent and fined him over 10,000 euros, the court said on Thursday.

It acquitted him of charges of coercion.

Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for Rubiales, 47, in a case that caused heated debate in Spain about sexism in womens football and wider Spanish society.

The court said in a statement it had also acquitted Rubiales three co-defendants who were accused of attempting to coerce Hermoso into saying the kiss, at the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney, was consensual. The ensuing furor overshadowed Spains victory in the tournament.

Rubiales has maintained through this months trial that Hermoso had consented to be kissed amid the celebrations.