Rubiales and Hermoso Reject Court Ruling in Spanish Football Kiss Case

Both parties plan to appeal the verdict, which found Rubiales guilty of sexual aggression for a non-consensual kiss after the 2023 Women's World Cup final.

Luis Rubiales, former head of Spain's football federation, was found guilty of sexual aggression for kissing player Jennifer Hermoso without consent during the 2023 Women's World Cup award ceremony.
The court sentenced Rubiales to an 18-month fine of €20 per day, prohibited him from contacting Hermoso for one year, and banned him from approaching her within 200 meters.
Both Rubiales and Hermoso have announced plans to appeal the ruling, with Hermoso maintaining that the kiss was non-consensual and Rubiales claiming he had prior permission.
The Spanish prosecution, which had sought a 2.5-year prison sentence for Rubiales, also intends to challenge the court's decision, calling the punishment too lenient.
Legal experts consider it unlikely that the verdict will be overturned, describing the judgment as reasonable and appropriately justified.