Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
FOOTBALLER Jenni Hermoso is appealing a fine as well as a restraining orders given to the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales. This was due to his controversial kiss following 2023 World Cup Final.
Hermoso’s lawyer, Angel Chavarria, said Thursday’s sentence for the sexual assault will be appealed because the player views it as too lenient and also will seek to overturn a ‘not guilty’ verdict concerning coercion.
Rubiales was fined €10,800 on Thursday and ordered not to approach Hermoso within 200 metres and was banned from contacting her for a year.
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He was also ordered to pay her €3,000 in compensation and cover half of the legal costs.
Rubiales was wanted by prosecutors to serve up to 2 1/2 years in prison for his assault and coercion.
Along with three former Spanish soccer officials, he was cleared of forcing Hermoso into retracting her claims.
The judge cleared Rubiales on the coercion count on the grounds that what he did later within the football federation to minimise the negative impact of the kiss did not include the elements of ‘violence’ and ‘intimidation’ as required by the Penal Code.
Other people facing coercion allegations include the former director and coach of the Spanish National Team, Albert Luque; the former coach of women’s football, Jorge Vilda; and Ruben Rivera, former head of Marketing for the Spanish federation.
Once they have thoroughly studied the decision of the judge, it is possible that the Prosecutor’s Office will also launch an appeal.
Meanwhile, Luis Rubiales, said on Thursday that he’ll be appealing against the sexual assault conviction, meaning that the ‘kiss’ saga is far from over.
