Football official Luis Rubiales has to pay a fine after the attacking kiss after the 2023 World Cup final. The judgment triggered a lot of criticism.
An unexpectedly mild judgment was made in the scandal about the attacking kiss after the final of the Women’s World Cup in 2023 and has led to outrage and disappointment.
The Spanish ex-association boss Luis Rubiales was guilty of sexual aggression because he had kissed the player Jennifer Hermoso on his mouth against her will after the 2023 World Cup final. A fine of almost 11,000 euros was imposed on him. The public prosecutor had asked for a port of two and a half years – one year for the allegation of sexual aggression and a year and a half for the allegation of coercion from which ruby was acquitted.
Rubiales must not approach the victim, the accused “sentenced to an 18-month fine of 20 euros per day”it said in a message from the State Court in Madrid. In addition, rubyers are prohibited from approaching the player within a radius of 200 meters and communicating with her for a year. Both sides can object to the judgment.
Spanish football “completely rotten”
The fact that there was a guilty verdict evaluated observers as progress. “Not too long ago, it was unthinkable that the judiciary recognizes a mutually acceptable kiss as sexual aggression”, said the MEP and former Spanish Equality Minister Irene Montero. “Feminism changes everything: only yes.” At the same time, Montero crisis that the fine was “minimal”.
The respected journalist and influencer Fonsi Loaiza ironically compared the annual salary of Rubiales as association president on social networks that had 930,000 euros.
In the TV broadcaster “La Sexta”, analyst Pablo Pombo hit the same notch and found that the verdict was “completely inadequate”. In outrage he called: “I hope that there will soon be more convictions in Spanish football, because it is clear that it is completely rotten.” The Association of Progressive Women of Spain announced that it was “deeply disappointed” because of the mild judgment.
Luis Rubiales holds the head of Jennifer Hermoso in his hands.
Judge justified Milde’s judgment: “no violence”
The reason for judge José Manuel Fernández-Prieto for the relatively mild judgment was that it was proven that Hermoso had been kissed against her will. However, there was no violence or intimidation.
Rubiales had been accused of sexual aggression because at the award ceremony after the 1-0 final victory over England at the World Cup in Australia. However, the 47-year-old had also taken coercion because he was said to have put the player under pressure together with the then employees so that it relieves him.
Acquisition of allegation of coercion
However, Rubiales was acquitted of the accusation of coercion – as well as the three co -accused. In addition to Rubiales, ex-women’s national coach Jorge Vilda, former RFEF sports director Albert Luque and the former marketing director of the association, Rubén Rivera, also took a seat in the Madrid suburb of San Fernando de Henares. Maintenance had not been proven, said judge Fernández-Prieto.
The Spanish Association and the country’s professional league only let them know that they respect the judgment.
Hermoso speaks of “disgust and disgust”
The scandal overshadowed the World Cup triumph of the Spaniards in August 2023. In the course of the affair, Rubiales resigned as head of the RFEF a little later. Among other things, it was blocked by the World Association FIFA for three years.
Rubiales rejected all allegations several times and back to the end and assured that he had asked Hermoso for permission before the kiss. In the process, Hermoso reported on the first day of the trial that the involuntary kiss had with her “Disgust and disgust” triggered and “Shadowed one of the happiest days of my life”.
Hermosos escape from Spain
The 34-year-old had also told that in the days after the World Cup, she was put under not only ruby but also other association employees at the time so that she did not accuse the matter and not accuse the matter.
She also suffered a real gauntlet run with harassment, insults and even death threats. “For a while I was afraid to take to the streets,” she said. At some point she made the decision to “leave Madrid with the whole family,” reported the striker, who is currently playing for Tigres Feminil in distant Mexico.