This Is Judge Prieto's Ruling to Luis Rubiales for the Kiss to Jenni Hermoso

Judge José Manuel Fernández-Prieto has sentenced Luis Rubiales, former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, to 18 months of fines for a sexual assault offense against player Jennifer Hermoso.

The sentence, issued less than a week after the trial concluded, imposes a daily fine of 20 euros, totaling 10,800 euros. Additionally, it prohibits Rubiales from approaching within 200 meters (656 ft.) of Hermoso or communicating with her for a year.

The case originated in August 2023 when, during the medal ceremony after the World Cup final in Sydney, Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips without her consent. This act caused a wave of criticism and debates about consent and appropriate conduct at high-profile sporting events.

The prosecution had requested a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales for the offenses of sexual assault and coercion. However, the judge acquitted him of the coercion charge, as well as the other accused, former coach Jorge Vilda, former team director Albert Luque, and former marketing manager Rubén Rivera.

During the trial, which extended over nine sessions, Jennifer Hermoso testified that the kiss was not consensual and described the pressures she received to downplay the incident. Meanwhile, the defenses argued that there was not enough violence or intimidation to classify the actions as coercion. Rubiales's lawyer maintained that the kiss was consensual and that subsequent interactions did not constitute coercion.

The sentence has been met with various reactions in the sports and social spheres. It is noteworthy that, following the incident and public pressure, Luis Rubiales resigned from his position as president of the RFEF on September 10, 2023. This resignation occurred amid intense media and social scrutiny over his conduct and the institutional culture within the federation.

This Is How Jenni Hermoso Defined the Controversial Kiss with Rubiales in an Interview Amid Laughter

Jennifer Hermoso and her statement before the judge left controversies. Among them, she was asked about everything that happened before and after the controversy of Luis Rubiales's kiss.

Among some of the issues raised during the trial, Jenni Hermoso was asked about her statements in an interview. This took place after Rubiales's kiss to Jenni Hermoso.

Hermoso, amid laughter and a relaxed atmosphere, said in that interview: "It was the moment, the excitement, there's nothing more to it and it will remain an anecdote. It won't go any further."