Former Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales Convicted of Sexual Assault for Non-Consensual World Cup Kiss

Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has been convicted of sexual assault for forcibly kissing player Jennifer Hermoso during the 2023 Women's World Cup medal ceremony.

The National Court has imposed a fine of €10,800 and mandated that Rubiales maintain a distance of at least 200 meters from Hermoso and refrain from any communication with her for one year. Additionally, he is required to pay Hermoso €3,000 in compensation. 

The court acquitted Rubiales of coercion charges, as well as three co-defendants—Albert Luque, Jorge Vilda, and Rubén Rivera—who were accused of pressuring Hermoso to publicly endorse the kiss. Despite the conviction, Rubiales maintains that the kiss was consensual and has announced plans to appeal the verdict. 

This incident has ignited a national conversation in Spain regarding sexism and has bolstered the country's "Me Too" movement. Prominent feminist politicians and the Association of Spanish Footballers have lauded the verdict as a significant advancement for women's rights, though some have criticized the leniency of the sentence. 

The ruling remains subject to appeal.