Former head of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso without her consent after the 2023 Women's World Cup final.

Spain's Supreme Court also ordered Rubiales to pay a fine of more than 10,000 euros, but acquitted him of the charge of coercion. He is not allowed to be within 200 meters of Hermoso or communicate with her for a year. Prosecutors had wanted a prison sentence for the former RFEF president.

World champion Hermoso told the court that she never consented to being kissed by Rubiales and that what happened then ruined one of the happiest moments of her life. Rubiales, 47, denied that the kiss was consensual.

Following the scandal, Rubiales resigned amid mounting public outrage, and in October 2023 was given a three-year ban from all sporting events by FIFA. He claimed he was the victim of a "witch hunt" by "fake feminists". | BGNES

Stefan Ignatov, Sports Departments in BGNES News Agency