Former RFEF president Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexually assaulting Jenni Hermoso.

Rubiales was on trial for kissing Hermoso without consent during celebrations following Spain’s historic Women’s World Cup win in 2023. The kiss was heavily focused on in the weeks following the World Cup final, sparking an international protest movement and uncovering a long history of misogyny in the Spanish federation. 

Rubiales eventually resigned from his post, as well as Spain’s manager Jorge Vilda – a figure whose actions, though not criminal offenses, were the centre of conversations on misogyny and power imbalances in the build up to and throughout the tournament. 

In addition to the sexual assault charge, Rubiales was charged with coercion alongside three others – Vilda, former RFEF sporting director Albert Luque and former RFEF marketing chief Rubén Rivera. They were accused of pressuring Hermoso to drop the charges and say that the kiss was consensual, but were all acquitted during the trial.

Though he was convicted, the punishment was fairly light. He has been ordered to pay a fine and compensation totalling €13,000 as well as a year-long restraining order. 

The sentence seems miniscule, but considering how many cases of sexual assault – from players, managers, board members and more – go unpunished by clubs and federations let alone justice systems, this outcome is rare and monumental.

This trial has set a positive precedent in the women’s game, proving that sexual assault and violent misogyny will not be tolerated.