Ex-Spanish FA chief loses appeal over controversial World Cup kiss

Former president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, has lost an appeal against his sexual assault conviction.

In February 2024, Rubiales was fined €10,800 (£9,206) for kissing captain Jenni Hermoso without her consent after the team won the 2023 World Cup.

The fine was upheld by a Spanish appeals court and also dismissed in a separate appeal from prosecutors, who had sought a retrial and pushed for jail sentence.

Rubiales denied the sexual assault charge, describing the kiss as an “act of affection “and “completely spontaneous “

The Spanish National Court ruled that the kiss between Luis Rubiales and Jennifer Hermoso was not consensual, noting that Hermoso had objected it from the start.

The court observed that Rubiales showed restraint with other players, suggesting he could have done the same with Hermoso without much effort.

The court also upheld the decision not to convict Rubiales of coercion.

Prosecutors had alleged he pressured Hermoso into publicly saying the kiss was consensual, which Rubiales denied.

Three other former Spanish football federation employees - coach Jorge Vila, marketing executive Rubén Rivera and sporting director Albert Luque - were previously cleared of coercion, a decision which was upheld on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

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