The Verdict on Luis Rubiales’ non-Consensual kiss is still Pending

Following Spain’s victory at the women’s World Cup in Australia in 2023, Rubiales is accused of sexually assaulting Hermoso by kissing her. In addition, he faces coercion charges for allegedly forcing Hermoso to later downplay the incident.

Rubiales resigned as a result of the outrage over the kiss, which brought attention to sexism in sports and macho culture. Rubiales, 47, asserts that the kiss was consensual, but Hermoso, 34, insists she did not consent.

After Rubiales and the other defendants declined to make closing comments, Judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto declared the trial to be over at San Fernando de Henares, close to Madrid. Rubiales faces a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, which includes 18 months for compulsion and one year for sexual assault, according to the prosecution.

Prosecutors are seeking 18 months in prison for Rubiales, two former federation executives, and former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda for allegedly trying to coerce Hermoso. In video from the World Cup medal presentation, Rubiales is seen kissing Hermoso on the head and then thumping her on the back. Hermoso said that the kiss “should not happen in any social or work setting” and that it made him feel “disrespected” during the trial’s opening.

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