Spain's former football chief Luis Rubiales has been convicted of sexual assault and fined more than 10,000 euros for having forcibly kissed Women's World Cup star Jenni Hermoso in 2023. The court acquitted Rubiales of a charge of coercion that carried a possible sentence of 18 months in prison.

A Spanish court on Thursday convicted former football chief Luis Rubiales of sexual assault over the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso and fined him € 10,800 ($11,300).

But the court acquitted him and the three other accused of the charge of coercion in the case.

Prosecutors had sought a prison term of two-and-a-half years for Rubiales – one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion – for having allegedly pressured the player to downplay the incident.

Rubiales was accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso in 2023 following Spain's triumph in the women's World Cup in Australia, as well as coercion for allegedly trying to convince her to downplay the incident afterwards.

Rubiales' stance on the stand contrasted with the defiance he displayed when the scandal broke.

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