Ex-Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales will appeal at the Supreme Court after fine for forcibly kissing Jenni Hermoso is upheld.
Published On 25 Jun 2025
Disgraced former Spanish Football Federation chief Luis Rubiales will appeal to the Supreme Court the confirmation of his $12,600 (10,800-euro) fine for forcibly kissing Jenni Hermoso, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
After a keenly awaited trial that gripped the country, Spain’s top criminal court in February found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for the kiss at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which generated global outrage.
The Audiencia Nacional also cleared him of a separate accusation of coercion for allegedly forcing Hermoso to downplay the incident afterwards.
Both parties contested the sentence, which fell short of the two-and-a-half-year prison term sought by prosecutors and infuriated feminist groups that condemned the punishment as too lenient.
Rubiales maintained that the kiss was a consensual “peck” between friends celebrating during a medal ceremony after star forward Hermoso had just helped Spain beat England in the final in Sydney, denying any coercion.
The court said in a statement on Wednesday that it had rejected the appeals of the defence team and prosecutors, maintaining the conviction and the fine.
“The kiss