Former Spanish Soccer Federation President Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexual assault following his nonconsensual kiss of footballer Jenni Hermoso at the 2023 World Cup final. The incident occurred after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England, when Rubiales kissed Hermoso during the trophy ceremony, an act that was widely condemned and caught on video and photos.
Following the incident, Rubiales was suspended from his position as president of the Spanish Football Federation in August 2023. As the controversy grew, nearly the entire coaching staff resigned in protest. Despite calls for him to step down from the Spanish government, players, and soccer officials, Rubiales initially refused but eventually resigned. In October 2023, FIFA banned him from all soccer-related activities for three years.
The nonconsensual kiss sparked nationwide protests and fueled an ongoing conversation about sexism and consent in sports. On February 3, 2025, Jenni Hermoso arrived at court for the trial against Rubiales in San Fernando de Henares. Prosecutors have asked for a two-and-a-half-year sentence for Rubiales, arguing that he held Hermoso’s head without her consent, causing both personal and professional consequences for her.
In addition to the prison sentence, prosecutors are seeking a fine of at least 50,000 euros ($54,000), as well as a prohibition on Rubiales from contacting Hermoso or coming within a 200-meter radius of her. The court also charges three former executives of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, accusing them of pressuring Hermoso to falsely claim the kiss was consensual.
Rubiales could face more than a year in prison, with his actions and their aftermath continuing to make waves in the world of soccer and beyond.
