MADRID: Spain’s High Court said on Thursday it had found former soccer federation boss Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent, and set a fine of over 10,000 euros ($10,434.00), but acquitted him of coercion.
Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for Rubiales in a case that sparked a debate in Spain about sexism in women’s football and wider Spanish society.
“The ruling bans Rubiales from going within a 200-meter radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for one year,” the court said in a statement.
Rubiales, 47, was accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso on the mouth. He was also accused — along with three other former soccer federation officials — of attempting to then coerce her into saying the kiss, at the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney, was consensual.
A lawyer for Hermoso was not immediately available for comment.
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Spanish court sentences ex-soccer boss Rubiales to pay fine over kiss without consent
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Spanish court sentences ex-soccer boss Rubiales to pay fine over kiss without consent
- Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for Rubiales
- “The ruling bans Rubiales from going within a 200-meter radius of Hermoso,” the court said
World Cup champion Spain widens lead over No. 2 United States in FIFA women’s rankings
- Spain retained its UEFA Nations League title since the last rankings update in August
ZURICH: Women’s World Cup champion Spain widened its points lead atop the FIFA rankings Thursday over the second-placed United States.
Spain retained its UEFA Nations League title since the last rankings update in August, while the US won four of five friendlies played in that time.
Spain won the Nations League final last week against Germany, which rose two places to No. 3 in the rankings. European champion England stayed at No. 4 and No. 5 Sweden fell two spots.
Brazil and France swapped places at Nos. 6 and 7, respectively. Japan stayed at No. 8, North Korea went up one to No. 9, taking the place of Canada now at No. 10.
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