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Spanish Appeals Court Upholds Rubiales’ Sexual Assault Fine

Barred from approaching Hermoso for a year under a restraining order, he plans to appeal to Spain’s Supreme Court.

Overview

  • The Spanish appeals court ruled that Rubiales’s unconsented kiss of Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 World Cup victory ceremony qualified as a sexual assault and confirmed his €10,800 fine.
  • Judges maintained a one-year ban preventing Rubiales from coming within 200 meters of Hermoso or contacting her.
  • In his February trial, Rubiales denied the allegations, insisted the kiss was consensual and initially resisted calls to resign before stepping down in September 2023.
  • Hermoso has become a leading voice against sexism in sports, describing the pressures she faced to minimize the incident.
  • Alongside his Supreme Court challenge, Rubiales faces separate corruption investigations into contract dealings during his tenure at the Spanish Football Federation.