Rubiales found guilty of assaulting Hermoso

Spain's former Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexual assault by the country's High Court for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without consent during the 2023 Women's World Cup awards ceremony. The court has imposed multiple penalties, including a fine exceeding €10,000, a one-year restraining order requiring Rubiales to maintain a 200-meter distance from Hermoso, and a €3,000 compensation payment to the player.

The incident, which occurred following Spain's World Cup victory in August 2023, sparked nationwide controversy and became a watershed moment for Spain's "Me Too" movement. While Rubiales maintained that the kiss was consensual, Hermoso testified that it left her feeling "vulnerable and a victim of aggression." The court ultimately accepted Hermoso's version of events.

Despite the conviction, some critics and women's rights advocates have characterized the sentence as lenient, noting that prosecutors had initially sought more severe penalties, including potential imprisonment. The Association of Spanish Footballers and feminist politicians have welcomed the verdict as a significant step forward for women's rights in Spain, while expressing concerns about the sentence's deterrent value.

Rubiales has announced his intention to appeal the ruling, which could extend the legal proceedings and their impact on public discourse. The case has already prompted widespread discussions about sexism, consent, and gender equality in Spanish society, particularly within sports organizations.

The verdict's implications extend beyond the immediate case, catalyzing institutional reviews of policies regarding sexual misconduct and promoting broader conversations about respect and equality. The outcome has become a symbol of changing attitudes toward gender-based misconduct in Spain, though debates continue about the adequacy of current legal responses to such incidents.