Football affair: judgment in Spain’s kiss scandal-outrage over fine

In the kiss scandal of Spanish football, an unexpectedly mild judgment has been made and has led to outrage and disappointment. Ex-association boss Luis Rubiales was guilty of sexual aggression because he had kissed the player Jennifer Hermoso on his mouth against her will after the 2023 World Cup final. However, he can avoid a prison sentence of two and a half years that the public prosecutor had requested. Only a fine of almost 11,000 euros was imposed on him.

Rubiales must not approach the victim

The accused is “sentenced to an 18-month fine of 20 euros a day,” said a message from the State Court in Madrid. In addition, rubyers are prohibited from approaching the player within a radius of 200 meters and communicating with her for a year. Both sides can object to the judgment.

This fine is “minimal”, complained by the MEP and former Spanish Equal Opportunities Minister Irene Montero. On the Internet, many said rubyers could pay the punishment from the postage of postage. The prestigious journalist and influencer Fonsi Loaiza ironically compared the annual salary of rubyers on the platform X as association president, which was 930,000 euros, with the low punishment.

Spanish football “completely rotten”

In the TV broadcaster “La Sexta”, analyst Pablo Pombo hit the same notch and found that the verdict was “completely inadequate”. In outrage, he called: “I hope that there will soon be more convictions in Spanish football, because it is clear that he is completely rotten.” The Association of Progressive Women of Spain announced that it was “deeply disappointed” because of the mild judgment.

Rubiales had been accused of sexual aggression because at the award ceremony after the 1-0 final victory over England at the World Cup in Australia. However, the 47-year-old had also taken coercion because he was said to have put the player under pressure together with the then employees so that it relieves him.

However, Rubiales was acquitted of the accusation of coercion – as well as the three co -accused. In addition to Rubiales, ex-women’s national coach Jorge Vilda, former RFEF sports director Albert Luque and the former marketing director of the association, Rubén Rivera, also took a seat in the Madrid suburb of San Fernando de Henares.

Judge justified Milde’s judgment: “no violence”

José Manuel Fernández-Prieto’s reason for the relatively mild judgment was the reason for the relatively mild judgment: It was proven that Hermoso had been kissed against her will. However, there was no violence or intimidation. Coercion had not been proven. The Spanish Association and the country’s professional league only let them know that they respect the judgment.

The scandal overshadowed the World Cup triumph of the Spaniards in August 2023. In the course of the affair, Rubiales resigned as head of the RFEF a little later. Among other things, it was blocked by the World Association FIFA for three years. Rubiales rejected all allegations several times and back to the end and assured that he had asked Hermoso for permission before the kiss.

In the trial, Hermoso reported on the first day of the trial that the involuntary kiss triggered her “disgust and disgust” and “overshadowed one of the happiest days of my life”. The 34-year-old had also told that in the days after the World Cup, she was put under not only ruby ​​but also other association employees at the time so that she did not accuse the matter and not accuse the matter.

Hermosos escape from Spain

She also suffered a real gauntlet run with harassment, insults and even death threats. “For a while I was afraid to take to the streets,” she said. At some point she made the decision to “leave Madrid with the whole family,” reported the striker, who is currently playing for Tigres Feminil in distant Mexico.

In the middle of the general outrage, politician and activist Irene Montero found a little comfort: “Not too long ago it was unthinkable that the judiciary recognizes a mutual kiss as sexual aggression. Feminism changes everything: only yes.”