Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexually assaulting Spain star Jenni Hermoso.
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Rubiales found guilty by Spanish courtOrdered to pay €10,000 fineFormer president had denied chargesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
A year and a half after the incident, a verdict has finally been reached after Rubiales kissed Hermoso without her consent in the aftermath of Spain's 2023 Women's World Cup triumph over England. The former football president has been ordered to pay more than €10,000 (£8,274) in fines by the High Court but the 47-year-old was not charged with coercion.
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Hermoso had previously testified in court that she never agreed to the ex-Spain chief kissing her during the trophy presentation and that it had "tainted one of the happiest days" of her life. Rubiales had argued that he acted in a "moment of jubilation" and that he received the consent of the World Cup winner.
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Rubiales was also under the microscope for reportedly attempting to coerce Hermoso into admitting the kiss had been consensual. But that was dismissed in the High Court's ruling, leaving the Spaniard to reflect on his "mistake" in the judgement of the public eye.
The former Spain chief did, however, receive a ban from going within 200 metres of Hermoso for a year, while he will also not be allowed to communicate with her for the same period of time. Three of Rubiales' former colleagues – Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Ruben Rivera, the RFEF's former head of marketing, and Albert Luque, former sporting director – were cleared after being accused of colluding in the alleged coercion.
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Rubiales was banned from all football-related activities for three years by FIFA and will continue to serve that suspension.
