Luis Rubiales's fine for forcibly kissing player Jenni Hermoso upheld on appeal

On appeal on Wednesday, June 25, the Spanish courts upheld the conviction of the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to a fine of 10,800 euros for the forced kiss on player Jenni Hermoso in August 2023 .

The court deemed the "correct" classification of the facts as "sexual assault" in the first instance judgment, the National Court detailed in its decision, confirming that there was no consent for this kiss, imposed by the former president of the Spanish Football Federation. The February 20 decision also specified that he was prohibited from approaching Jenni Hermoso within 200 meters and from communicating with her for one year.

Elevated as a symbol of the fight against sexism in sport, Jenni Hermoso had reaffirmed at the opening of the trial on February 3 that she had never given her consent and assured that she had felt "disrespected" as a woman. The national team's top scorer had also described the "countless" pressure she suffered after this gesture to cover up the scandal.