Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has lost his appeal against a sexual assault conviction stemming from his controversial kiss on Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup triumph.
The Spanish appeals court has upheld the €10,800 (£9,206) fine issued in February after Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips during the victory celebrations — an act Hermoso said was non-consensual and deeply disrespectful.
Rubiales had argued the kiss was a spontaneous “act of affection,” but the court, in its ruling on Wednesday, disagreed. The Audiencia Nacional concluded that the kiss was not consensual, emphasizing that Hermoso had made her discomfort clear from the start. The court also noted Rubiales had been able to restrain himself with other players and “could also have done so, without too much effort, with the captain.”
The fallout from the incident was swift and severe, sparking protests, global outrage, and calls for Rubiales’ resignation — which he eventually tendered. Hermoso testified during the initial trial that she never gave Rubiales permission to kiss her, and that the act “stained one of the happiest days” of her life.
In addition to the fine, Rubiales remains under a one-year restraining order preventing him from coming within 200 meters of Hermoso or contacting her in any form. However, the court did not find him guilty of coercion, a separate charge in the case.
Prosecutors had claimed Rubiales tried to pressure Hermoso into publicly declaring the kiss was consensual — an allegation he denied. A separate appeal by prosecutors seeking a retrial and a possible prison sentence for Rubiales was also rejected by the court.
Three other former employees of the Spanish Football Federation — coach Jorge Vilda, marketing director Rubén Rivera, and sporting director Albert Luque — were previously cleared of any coercion in relation to the incident. The court reaffirmed their acquittals on Wednesday.
This ruling marks another milestone in the broader movement for accountability and respect in women’s sports, reinforcing the message that consent and professionalism are non-negotiable — even at the highest levels of celebration.
