Earlier on Thursday, the 47-year-old was sentenced for sexual assault with a fine of 10,800 euros, equivalent to approximately 120,000 kronor, according to several media outlets. Rubiales was also sentenced to a one-year restraining order and is not allowed to be within a 200-meter radius of Jennifer Hermoso, according to elDiario.es.
The prosecutor had requested two and a half years' imprisonment, one year for sexual assault and one and a half years for unlawful coercion. Luis Rubiales was acquitted of the charges of unlawful coercion.
Mr. Rubiales has decided to appeal the verdict, says lawyer Olga Tubau Martínez to the news agency AFP.
Without Consent
The case will therefore be taken up in a higher instance in the Audiencia Nacional, the national court. After that, it may also become a case in the Tribunal Supremo, Spain's highest court, if there are further appeals.
Rubiales kissed the attacking star Hermoso on the mouth during the prize ceremony after Spain's VM-gold in Sydney on August 20, 2023, when England was defeated 1–0 in the final.
34-year-old Hermoso has said that it was without consent. Rubiales has claimed that the kiss was mutual, but unfortunate.
A kiss without consent is a sexual assault, says Spain's Minister of Equality Ana Redondo García to the news agency AP after the verdict.
Initially Refused to Resign
The criticism against Rubiales after the so-called scandalous kiss was enormous. At a press conference on August 25, 2023, he chose not to resign as chairman of the Spanish Football Association, although most people expected him to do so.
The next day, however, the International Football Association (Fifa) suspended him from all football for three months during the investigation. In September 2023, the news came that he would resign, and in October of the same year, Fifa announced that Rubiales would be suspended for three years.
After the scandalous kiss, Rubiales allegedly tried to put pressure on Hermoso and her family on several occasions and in several ways, so that he would not get into trouble. Rubiales has denied allegations of any form of influence and was acquitted on that point by the court.
Corrected: In an earlier version of the text, incorrect information was provided regarding the crime classification. The correct information is that Rubiales was acquitted of unlawful coercion.
