Spanish Court Upholds Fine For Luis Rubiales' 'Forced Kiss' To Jenni Hermoso

Last Updated:June 25, 2025, 20:12 IST

Rubiales was slapped with a £10,800 fine for his actions, and the Audiencia Nacional rejected the appeal over the same on Wednesday.

Former president of Spain's football federation Luis Rubiales (AP)

The fine for former RFEF chief Luis Rubiales over his forced kiss of Spanish national team player Jenni Hermoso following the country’ maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup win in 2023 was held up by the Audiencia Nacional on Wednesday.

Rubiales was slapped with a £10,800 fine for his actions, and the court rejected the appeal over the same.

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Olga Carmona’s lone strike for Spain was enough for the team to beat England in the final of the FIFA WWC in Australia, however, controversy struck the Spanish body as Rubiales pulled Hermoso towards him and kissed her on the lips, shocking the world during the trophy ceremony.

Spain’s triumph was meant to be a landmark moment for a nation with a rich sporting tradition. However, a kiss from Rubiales on the lips of team star Hermoso triggered a series of events that brought a surge of emotions and changes in women’s football.

FIFA opened an inquiry into the incident, stating that Rubiales’ actions violated the basic rules of decent conduct and brought the sport of football and FIFA into disrepute.

Despite loud calls for his resignation, Rubiales refused to step down, arguing that doing so would imply his actions were indeed horrendous.

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The RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) requested UEFA to suspend it, citing government interference, as the Spanish government sent detailed paperwork to the sporting tribunal to aid the investigation. The Spanish women’s team coach, an aide of Rubiales who led the team to the title, was sacked despite condemning the president’s actions.

As one of the most shameful sagas in women’s football came to a close, Rubiales was sacked from his position to highlight the severity of the incident. The Spanish football environment and the worldwide fanbase continue to fight the moral discrepancies that plague the game during a monumental year for the European nation.

After a highly anticipated trial that captivated Spain, the court in February found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for the kiss but acquitted him of a separate coercion charge for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to downplay the incident.

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