Luis Rubiales Found Guilty of Sexually Assaulting Spanish Footballer Jenni Hermoso

• Feb 20, 2025

Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting footballer Jenni Hermoso. The conviction stems from an incident in which Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips without her consent following Spain’s victory in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

A judge at Spain’s national court ruled that Rubiales had committed sexual assault but acquitted him of attempting to coerce Hermoso into minimizing the impact of the unsolicited kiss. The former football chief, who faced a potential prison sentence of two and a half years, has instead been ordered to pay fines and compensation amounting to more than €13,000 (£10,800). Additionally, he has been prohibited from approaching within 200 meters of Hermoso and from contacting her for a year.

Three other individuals—former head coach of the women’s national team Jorge Vilda, ex-sporting director Albert Luque, and former marketing chief Rubén Rivera—were also on trial for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to claim the kiss was consensual. However, they were acquitted of coercion charges.

The incident overshadowed Spain’s historic World Cup victory and ignited a global debate on sexism and consent in sports. Hermoso faced death threats in the aftermath, and the controversy ultimately led to Rubiales’ resignation as head of the federation.

Rubiales, 47, has consistently claimed the kiss was consensual. “I am absolutely sure that she gave me her permission,” he stated in court earlier this month. “It was a completely spontaneous moment.” However, the judge firmly disagreed.

In his verdict, Judge José Manuel Clemente Fernández-Prieto stated that Rubiales sexually assaulted Hermoso when he "grabbed the player's head with both hands and, then, in a sudden manner and without her consent and acceptance, kissed her on the lips." The judge emphasized that such an act carries a clear sexual connotation and is not an appropriate form of greeting between individuals without a close personal relationship. He further pointed out that Rubiales had congratulated other team members with hugs and cheek kisses, highlighting the inappropriateness of his actions toward Hermoso.

The court ruled that Hermoso had made it clear in her testimony that she had never consented to the kiss. Given her previously professional relationship with Rubiales, the judge saw no reason for her to fabricate her account.

Rubiales has been given 10 days to appeal the ruling. His lawyer has confirmed that he intends to challenge the decision.

Spain’s Equality Minister, Ana Redondo, welcomed the verdict, stating that it sent a clear message about consent. “A non-consensual kiss is sexual assault,” she affirmed. “A victim’s words must be heard and respected, not questioned.” Former Equality Minister and current MEP Irene Montero echoed this sentiment, noting that such a judicial recognition of non-consensual acts would have been unthinkable in the past. However, she argued that the fines and damages imposed on Rubiales should have been higher.

During the trial, Hermoso provided emotional testimony about the impact of the incident on her life. She stated that she had never agreed to the kiss and that Rubiales had not sought her permission. “I felt it was completely inappropriate,” she said. “I suddenly realized my boss was kissing me, which should never happen in a social or workplace setting. I felt disrespected. One of the happiest days of my life was tainted.”

Hermoso described how the kiss and its aftermath upended her life and deeply affected her family. “I’m a world champion, but my life has been on hold ever since. I haven’t been able to live freely.”

Rubiales admitted in court that he had made an error in judgment but insisted that the kiss was mutual. “I now realize I made a mistake,” he said. “It was spontaneous. I acted like just another member of the team, but I should have been more composed and taken a more formal approach.”

He also denied pressuring Hermoso to make a statement downplaying the incident, claiming he merely suggested issuing a joint statement to ease tensions. Hermoso refused, yet the federation released a statement on her behalf anyway. She later testified that this statement made her feel manipulated.

The court also heard testimony from Hermoso’s brother, Rafael, who revealed that on the flight back from Australia, Vilda had urged him to persuade his sister to record a video with Rubiales to make it appear she was unbothered by the kiss.

Initially, Rubiales dismissed criticism of his actions, calling his detractors “idiots and stupid people.” However, the backlash intensified, leading to his provisional suspension by FIFA and Hermoso’s subsequent criminal complaint. Public outrage further escalated when it was revealed that Rubiales had also grabbed his crotch while celebrating near Queen Letizia of Spain and her teenage daughter, Infanta Sofía.

As pressure mounted, the Spanish Football Federation demanded Rubiales’ resignation and later dismissed Vilda. The controversy reached its peak when Rubiales defiantly refused to step down in a speech where he repeatedly declared, “I will not resign,” accused critics of promoting “false feminism,” and attempted to reframe the kiss as an innocent “peck.”

Despite his ongoing insistence on his innocence, the court’s ruling stands as a milestone in the fight for gender equality and consent in professional sports.