By Victor Kanayo
Former football chief Luis Rubiales was convicted of sexual assault by a Spanish court on Thursday.
The conviction followed the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso.
The court also fined him €10,800 ($11,300).
However, the court acquitted him and the three other accused individuals of the charge of coercion, AFP reports.
Prosecutors had sought a prison term of two and a half years for Rubiales, one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion, for allegedly pressuring the player to downplay the incident.
Rubiales was accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso in 2023 following Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup in Australia, as well as coercion for allegedly trying to convince her to downplay the incident afterwards.
The global outcry over the kiss forced Rubiales to resign in disgrace and thrust the spotlight on the prevalence of macho culture and sexism in sport.
Hermoso, 34, said on the opening day of the trial on 3rd February that she felt “disrespected” after a non-consensual kiss that “should not happen in any social or work setting”.
But Rubiales, 47, told the court on Tuesday that he was “totally sure” Hermoso consented to the kiss as she went up to receive her winner’s medal, which was broadcast live around the world, and denied putting pressure on her after the incident.
Later, Rubiales resigned in September that year after FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged sexual assault.
He had been federation president since 2018.
