The Spanish High Court has upheld the conviction of Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), for sexual assault in the case involving an unsolicited kiss on the lips of Spanish national team player Jenni Hermoso. The incident occurred during the medal ceremony following Spain's victory in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Sydney, Australia.
The court's decision on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, confirms the earlier ruling that found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault but acquitted him of a separate charge of coercion. While prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for Rubiales, the court opted for a fine of €10,800 (approximately $11,288). The High Court rejected appeals from both Rubiales' defense team, who sought to overturn the conviction, and prosecutors, who argued for a harsher prison sentence.
In addition to the fine, the court has ordered Rubiales to refrain from approaching Hermoso within a 200-meter radius and prohibits any communication with her for a year. He is also required to compensate Hermoso with €3,000 and cover 50% of the legal costs, excluding those incurred by the Spanish Footballers' Association's class action suit.
Judge José Manuel Clemente Fernández-Prieto, who presided over the case, stated that it had been "duly proven" that Rubiales held Hermoso's head with both hands and kissed her on the lips without her consent or acceptance. The judge emphasized that such an action, "kissing a woman on the mouth," carries "a clear sexual connotation" and is not a typical way to greet someone without an intimate relationship.
Rubiales has maintained throughout the trial that the kiss was a consensual "peck" between friends during a moment of celebration. However, Hermoso testified that she did not consent to the kiss and that the incident, along with the subsequent commotion, "tainted one of the happiest days of my life." The court sided with Hermoso's testimony, finding Rubiales guilty of sexual assault.
The case has had far-reaching consequences for Rubiales, who was initially suspended by FIFA on August 26, 2023, and eventually resigned from his position as RFEF president on September 10, 2023, amid mounting public and political pressure. He also faces a ban from all football-related activities for three years.
The Rubiales-Hermoso kiss sparked a global outcry and ignited a national debate in Spain about sexism in women's football and broader Spanish society. It fueled the "Me Too" movement in the country and brought increased attention to issues of consent and respect in sports. While some feminist groups have criticized the court's sentence as too lenient, the case has nonetheless been seen as a significant step forward in recognizing and addressing sexual assault in the sporting world. For Jenni Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the Spanish national women's team, the affair has transformed her into an icon in the fight against sexism and macho culture in sports.
The court also upheld the acquittal of three other defendants—Albert Luque, Jorge Vilda, and Rubén Rivera—who were accused of attempting to coerce Hermoso into downplaying the incident. Prosecutors had requested a retrial, alleging doubts about the judge's impartiality, but this request was also dismissed by the High Court. Despite the upheld conviction, Rubiales has confirmed his intent to appeal the court's decision, signaling that the legal saga is likely not yet over.
