Court upholds Rubiales sexual assault conviction

Spain's High Court connected Wednesday upheld a verdict that recovered erstwhile shot federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales blameworthy of intersexual battle for an unsolicited buss connected the lips of nationalist squad subordinate Jenni Hermoso astatine the 2023 World Cup successful Sydney.

The tribunal rejected aggregate appeals against the conviction, reaffirming Rubiales kissed Hermoso without her consent during the medal ceremonial aft Spain's women had won the trophy, according to the ruling seen by Reuters.

Rubiales was fined implicit €10,000 ($11,592) and acquitted of coercion charges alongside 3 co-defendants. Prosecutors had sought a 2-1/2-year situation condemnation and called for a retrial, some of which were dismissed.

The incidental sparked wide statement astir sexism successful Spanish nine and women's football, fueling momentum for the "Me Too" question successful the country.

Rubiales argued that his actions were motivated by an uncontrollable joy, but the tribunal ruled that his restraint with different players and attendees demonstrated helium could person avoided specified behaviour with Hermoso.

"Since that emotion did not pb him to explicit his joyousness truthful effusively by kissing the different players oregon the accompanying persons successful the box, and helium restrained himself, helium could besides person done so, without excessively overmuch effort, with the skipper of the team," the tribunal said.