The Infamous Kiss That Brought Down Luis Rubiales
Luis Rubiales, the former chief of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has been found guilty of sexually assaulting footballer Jenni Hermoso after Spain won the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in 2023. The infamous kiss, which stole attention away from the Spanish women’s team’s first World Cup victory, sparked widespread outrage. A total of 550 days have passed since the kiss shook Spanish and global football.
Recap of the Case and Its Aftermath
After the final match against England in Sydney, the Spanish players lined up to receive their gold medals and congratulations from a receiving line that included Rubiales. When Spain’s star player, Hermoso, greeted Rubiales, he hugged her tightly and pulled her in to plant a firm kiss on her lips. At the same time, he also kissed several other players on the cheek.
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In the aftermath of the incident, Rubiales claimed that the kiss was consensual and mutual, insisting that he was the victim of a “witch hunt” led by “false feminists.” However, Hermoso denied his claims, stating that the kiss happened without her consent. “I felt vulnerable and like the victim of aggression—an impulsive, sexist, out-of-place act committed without any kind of consent on my part. Simply put, I was not respected,” she said in a statement.
As the controversy erupted, the federation witnessed the resignation of Vice President Rafael del Amo and at least two other officials. However, Rubiales initially refused to step down. Hermoso and her teammates declared they would not play as long as Rubiales remained in charge and called for broader structural changes within the federation. Almost three weeks later, Rubiales resigned, saying he could no longer do his job amid the accusations and backlash.
Following the launch of disciplinary proceedings, he was banned from all soccer-related activities for three years. Spain’s government sports authority also barred him from holding any position in sports management for the same period.
During the trial, Hermoso stated that the unsolicited kiss and its aftermath “tainted one of the happiest days of my life.”
Court Ruling
Spain’s High Court has now found former Spanish football federation boss Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault, ordering him to pay a fine of €10,800 (£8,942). However, he was acquitted of coercion charges, which accused him of pressuring Hermoso into publicly stating that the kiss was consensual.
The ruling also prohibits him from coming within 200 meters of Hermoso or communicating with her for one year, the court said in a statement.
Meanwhile, three of his former colleagues—Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning team; Rubén Rivera, the RFEF’s former head of marketing; and Albert Luque, former sporting director—were also on trial for allegedly colluding in coercion. They were cleared of those charges.
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Although prosecutors had sought a prison sentence, the judge declined to impose jail time. Throughout the trial, Rubiales defended himself, describing the kiss as an act of affection and saying it was “something completely spontaneous” in the moment. Speaking to Reuters, he stated, “I am going to keep fighting.”
Meanwhile, the Association of Spanish Footballers, a union that acted as a private prosecutor in the case, said the ruling “represents a significant step in the defense of women’s rights and in the fight for a sport free of abuse and inequality.”
