Spanish court sentences ex-soccer boss Rubiales to pay fine over kiss without consent

Emma Pinedo

Spain's High Court has found former soccer federation boss Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent, and set a fine of over €10,000, but acquitted him of coercion.

Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for Rubiales in a case that sparked a debate in Spain about sexism in women's football and wider Spanish society.

"The ruling bans Rubiales from going within a 200-metre radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for one year," the court said in a statement on Thursday.

Rubiales (47) was accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso on the mouth. He was also accused - along with three other former soccer federation officials - of attempting to then coerce her into saying the kiss, at the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney, was consensual.

A lawyer for Hermoso was not immediately available for comment. - Reuters