Luis Rubiales, the former president of Spain's football federation, has lost an appeal against his sexual assault conviction. Rubialeswas fined €10,800 (£9,206) in Februaryfor kissing captain Jenni Hermoso without her consent after Spain's women's team won the 2023 World Cup. A Spanish appeals court upheld the fine, and also dismissed a separate appeal from prosecutors, who had sought a retrial and pushed for a jail sentence. The incident - in which Rubiales grabbed Hermoso's head and kissed her on the lips - triggered protests and calls for his resignation. He denied the sexual assault charge, describing the kiss as an "act of affection" and "completely spontaneous". On Wednesday, the Audencia Nacional said it did not consider the kiss consensual, and said Hermoso had objected to it from the outset. It found that Rubiales "restrained himself" when interacting with other players and "could also have done so, without too much effort, with the captain". At the original trial,Hermoso said she had not given permission for the kiss, which she felt "disrespected" her and "stained one of the happiest days" of her life. The court upheld the sentence handed down in February, which included a ban on Rubiales going within a 200m radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for one year. The court also upheld the decision not to convict Rubiales of coercion. Prosecutors had alleged he pressured Hermoso into publicly saying the kiss was consensual, which Rubiales denied. Three other former Spanish football federation employees - coach Jorge Vila, marketing executive Rubén Rivera and sporting director Albert Luque - were previously cleared of coercion, a decision which was upheld on Wednesday.
Former Spanish football chief loses World Cup kiss appeal
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"Luis Rubiales Loses Appeal Against Sexual Assault Conviction in World Cup Kiss Case"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Luis Rubiales, the former president of Spain's football federation, has faced a significant legal setback as his appeal against a sexual assault conviction has been rejected by a Spanish appeals court. The court upheld a fine of €10,800 (£9,206) imposed in February after Rubiales kissed national team captain Jenni Hermoso without her consent during the celebrations following Spain's victory in the 2023 Women's World Cup. The incident sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests and calls for Rubiales' resignation. Despite his claims that the kiss was an 'act of affection' and 'completely spontaneous', the court found that Hermoso had objected to the kiss from the beginning, deeming it non-consensual. The court also noted that Rubiales had exhibited restraint in his interactions with other players, suggesting he could have similarly respected Hermoso's boundaries.
The appeals court not only upheld the fine but also confirmed a one-year ban on Rubiales approaching or communicating with Hermoso, as well as dismissing a separate appeal from prosecutors seeking a retrial and a harsher sentence. Prosecutors had argued that Rubiales pressured Hermoso into publicly stating that the kiss was consensual, a claim he denied. Additionally, the court upheld the earlier decision not to convict Rubiales of coercion, as well as the acquittals of three other former employees of the football federation who were accused of similar misconduct. This ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing discussions around consent and accountability in sports, particularly in the context of the treatment of female athletes and the responsibilities of those in positions of power within sports organizations.
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