Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has been found guilty of sexual assault and fined €10,800 ($11,300) by Spain’s High Court, marking a dramatic downfall for the once powerful figure.
The conviction stems from his non-consensual kiss on the lips of Spanish star player Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony following Spain’s victory in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final in Sydney.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, February 20, 2025, found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault but acquitted him of coercion, a charge related to allegations that he pressured Hermoso to downplay the incident.
Prosecutors had initially sought a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Rubiales, affectionately known as “Rubi” to his friends.
The incident sparked global outrage, leading to Rubiales’ suspension and subsequent resignation from his position as RFEF president in September 2023, a role he had held for over five years.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Rubiales maintained his innocence, asserting that the kiss was consensual. “I was totally sure” Hermoso had consented, he told the court.
Rubiales’ career has been marked by a series of controversies, reflecting his combative and assertive personality.
Prior to his tenure at the RFEF, he served as the head of the Spanish players’ union (AFE) from 2010 to 2017.
During this period, he demonstrated a strong advocacy for player rights, organizing two national players’ strikes in 2011 and 2015 and establishing a fund to address unpaid salaries. He also successfully negotiated a percentage of La Liga’s TV broadcast rights for the AFE.
His playing career, which concluded in 2009 at Scotland’s Hamilton Academical, saw him play for several lower-division teams, including a notable stint at Levante, where he led a player revolt against unpaid wages.
Former Levante coach Manolo Preciado described him as a “modern defender, physically very strong” and a “model of dedication and loyalty.”
However, Rubiales’ leadership was often marred by conflict. His strained relationship with La Liga president Javier Tebas, who once deemed him “not qualified” for the RFEF presidency, was particularly notable.
Tebas publicly criticized Rubiales’ “misogynistic gestures” and “vulgar expressions” following the Hermoso incident.
His tenure as RFEF president was characterized by bold, often contentious decisions. Notably, he sacked men’s national coach Julen Lopetegui just days before the 2018 World Cup.
He also expanded the Spanish Super Cup, leading to a lucrative but controversial deal to host the competition in Saudi Arabia, a move that drew criticism due to the country’s human rights record.
Leaked audio recordings in 2022 further fueled controversy, suggesting significant financial commissions for Gerard Pique’s company, Kosmos, in connection with the Saudi Arabia deal.
Despite these controversies, Rubiales also garnered praise for increasing the RFEF’s revenues and improving conditions for lower-tier teams, earning support from regional football federations.
He significantly increased funding for women’s football, tripling the budget to €406 million in 2022. However, his decision to side with women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda during a player mutiny led by Hermoso ultimately contributed to the circumstances that resulted in his downfall.
