Luis Rubiales , the disgraced former head of the Spanish Football Federation, is set to appeal his conviction and 10,800 fine for forcibly kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso, his lawyer confirmed on Wednesday.
Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault in February by Spain's top criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, following a high-profile trial that sparked nationwide debate and international condemnation. The charge stemmed from the 2023 Women's World Cup final, when Rubiales kissed Hermoso during the medal ceremony without her consent, prompting global outrage.
However, the court acquitted him of a separate coercion charge, which alleged he had pressured Hermoso into publicly downplaying the incident.
Both the prosecution and defence challenged the February ruling, with prosecutors arguing for a more severe sentence, including a custodial term of up to two and a half years. Feminist organisations also expressed disappointment at what they saw as an insufficient punishment.
Despite the appeals, the court upheld its original verdict and sentence, stating in its Wednesday ruling: "The kiss was not consensual." It noted that Hermoso had clearly communicated her discomfort both at the time and during her court testimony, supported by the accounts of teammates. "It cannot be said that a kiss in those circumstances was frequent, common, or usual," the judges concluded.