The Spanish Supreme Court has determined that Luis Rubiales is guilty of kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso without her consent. He, the former head of the football federation, has been fined over 10,000 euros. Rubiales denied the allegations, stating that the kiss was consensual and merely an innocent reaction during a ‘moment of joy’.
Sexism and misogyny
Hermoso (along with her team) was meant to celebrate a historic achievement after the Spanish women’s team secured its very first World Cup on August 20, 2023. However, the kiss – and subsequent accusations of sexism and misogyny directed at Rubiales – sadly overshadowed the event. Hermoso later expressed that the kiss had cast a shadow over what should have been one of the happiest days of her life.
During the trial, Rubiales was also cleared of the charges of coercion. The international backlash and demands for resignation ensued after the former Spanish football federation president kissed the player on the lips during the award ceremony. Subsequently, Rubiales resigned from his position.
Psychological exhaustion
Throughout the trial, Ana Belen Ecube, a close friend of Hermoso, allegedly informed the court that the incident and its ensuing controversy had caused the footballer to feel ’emotionally, physically, and psychologically exhausted’.
Alexia Putellas, another player from the Spanish women’s team, remarked: ‘I recall that she [Hermoso, ed.] was extremely overwhelmed on the plane [back to Madrid, ed.] as they didn’t give her space and kept badgering her. She started crying out of sheer exhaustion. She was no longer angry, just drained.’
