Former football chief Luis Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault on Thursday in Spain after receiving a forced kiss from star forward Jenni Hermoso. He was also fined, but acquitted of the coercion charge.
For allegedly forcing the player to downplay the incident afterward, the prosecution had requested a two-and-a-half year sentence for Rubiales, who had been sentenced to one year in prison for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion.
Judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto at Spain’s High Court found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault over the kiss and fined him 10, 800 euros ($11, 300), but spared him a prison sentence.
Additionally, Rubiales was prohibited from communicating with Hermoso for a year and from traveling within a 200-meter radius of her.
READ ALSO:  , Rubiales Says He Is ‘ Totally Sure ‘ Hermoso Consented To Kiss
Kissing a woman on the mouth “is not the normal way of greeting people with whom one has no sentimental relationship”, the judge wrote in his ruling, saying Rubiales had violated Hermoso’s “sexual freedom” without her consent.
Lawyer Olga Tubau Martinez for Rubiales, Olga Tubau Martinez, reported to AFP that Rubiales’ client “has decided to appeal the decision.”
At the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney, former Spanish federation chief Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips before letting her go with two slaps on the back during the scandal that rocked Spanish football.
Rubiales was forced to resign in disgrace as a result of the outcry, which also raised awareness of the prevalence of sexism and macho culture in sport.
Hermoso, 34, said on the opening day of the trial on February 3 she felt “disrespected” after a non-consensual kiss that “should not happen in any social or work setting”.
Her teammates gave oaths to her about how she had been “overwhelmed” after the incident, and Rafael Hermoso, her brother, claimed she was under pressure to minimize the incident to protect the federation chief.
But Rubiales, 47, told the court he was “totally sure” Hermoso consented to the kiss as she went up to receive her winner’s medal, which was broadcast live around the world, and denied putting pressure on her after the incident.
She held my hand up against my underarms, lifted me, and when I came down, I asked if I could kiss you, and she responded, “OK.” That’s what happened”, he said, describing it as “an act of affection”.
Rubiales conceded he “made a mistake” in the incident on the podium, saying he should have “been in a more institutional role”, but denied he had committed any offence.
 , ‘Entitled to celebrate ‘
Hermoso and her teammates were seen shortly after the incident in video, according to Rubiales’ defense team, adding that this evidence supported the player’s claim that the kiss did not cause any upheaval.
However, prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil refuted this line of reasoning in her closing arguments, in which she added that there was “no doubt” that the kiss was “non-consensual”.
How long will it take us to continue demanding heroic deeds from sexual assault victims? Wasn’t she entitled to celebrate such a sporting triumph”? she asked.
The court acquitted the three other accused in the case, ex-women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials, of the charge of coercion.
 , ‘Fake feminism ‘
Equality Minister Ana Redondo welcomed the verdict, saying it demonstrated that “when there is no consent, there is aggression”.
Rubiales’ position on the matter was in contrast to Rubiales’ defiance when the scandal first surfaced.
He downplayed the significance of the kiss and refrained from resigning during an “false feminism” at an upcoming federation meeting in August 2023.
FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged sexual assault, Rubiales resigned in September that year. Since 2018, he has served as the head of the federation.
Hermoso, who currently plays for Mexican club Tigres and is the all-time top scorer for the Spain national women’s team, was not immediately recalled after the World Cup.
Montse Tome, the new coach, stated that she was sorry if she didn’t exclude her from the squad because she wanted to protect the player.
Source: Channels TV
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