Luis Luviarez, former head of the Spanish national soccer team, was found guilty of forcing a kiss on female soccer star Jenni Hermoso on Thursday.
Luviales, 47, was accused of sexual assault and forced sexually assaulting and coercion for a very public kiss on the lips of Elmos in 2023 after Spain's victory at the Women's World Cup in Australia. Prosecutors also alleged that they tried to prevent other players from talking about the case.
Elmos, 34, accused her of attacking Rubiales, claiming she didn't want to kiss him.
The trial ended on February 14th, and the BBC reported that the verdict had been announced.
A Spanish High Court found Luviareth guilty of sexual assault and fined $11,300. Prosecutors had demanded more than two years in prison, but the court opposed prison time. Rubiales was acquitted of forced charges.
Additionally, the former soccer chief was banned from communicating with Elmos for a year and cannot come within 200 meters.
Three of Rubiales' colleagues were also accused of trying to silence the allegations, but were accused of allegations acquitted. The ones acquitted are former head of marketing for the real Federacion Espanyola de Fotoball (RFEF) and former head of former sports director Albert Luk.
Rubiales always claimed that he asked for permission to kiss Elmos on the field that day, and she agreed to his request. He also argues that the kiss is not malicious and that it is merely a “voluntary” act.
“She squeezed me very tightly under my armpits and she lifted me up. When I came down I asked her if I could kiss you. , and she said, 'OK,' and that's what happened.'
He admitted that the kiss was “mistake” and “inappropriate” during the trial.
Rubiales initially rebelled over the kiss and opposed “fake feminism” when Elmos began to accus her. FIFA quickly stopped him, and soon afterwards he resigned from the Spanish football program, which had been the federal chief since 2018.
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