Spain's High Court has found Luis Rubiales guilty of kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso without her consent. The former football federation boss has been ordered to pay a fine of more than €10,000 (£8,275). He denied all charges, claiming the kiss was consensual and a harmless response during a "moment of jubilation".
Hermoso (and her team) should have been celebrating a historic milestone after Spain's women's team won its first ever World Cup on 20 August 2023, but the kiss – and the accusations of sexism, misogony and more levelled at Rubiales thereafter – unfortunately dominated headlines instead. On record, Hermoso later said the kiss "tainted one of the happiest days" of her life.
During the trial, Rubiales was also acquitted of coercion.
When the Former Spanish football chief kissed the player on the lips during the trophy presentation ceremony it prompted international outrage and calls for him to resign – he did shortly afterwards.
During the trial, it's reported that Hermoso's close friend, Ana Belen Ecube, told the court that the incident and the surrounding furore had left the footballer "exhausted, emotionally and physically… it was also psychological exhaustion".
Alexia Putellas, who also played for the Spanish women's team added, "I remember on the plane [back to Madrid] that she [Hermoso] was very overwhelmed, that they didn’t let her, that they didn't stop.
"She started crying from exhaustion. No longer angry, but exhausted."
Amber O’Connor is Cosmopolitan UK’s former junior features writer, who covers everything from breaking news, women’s safety and real life features to fitness, travel, and cultural trends. She works on first-person features, reports, and long reads, plus the hottest stories of the day (if you want to know about the latest wellness craze or TikTok trends, she’s your girl). Amber has previously worked as a reporter and a lifestyle writer, with her work appearing in numerous publications, including The Mirror, Red Magazine, Evening Standard, Indy100, and Yahoo News. When she’s not working her way through her TBR list, Amber loves dancing, running, and going on adventures with her dog.
