• Spain's High Court confirmed Rubiales' sexual assault conviction for kissing Hermoso.
• Rubiales received a fine but no prison sentence, attracting criticism.
• The case has ignited discussions on sexism in sports.

On June 25, Spain's High Court upheld the conviction of former soccer federation president Luis Rubiales for sexually assaulting national team player Jenni Hermoso by kissing her without consent during the 2023 Women's World Cup medal ceremony. The court rejected appeals against the conviction, reaffirming that Rubiales kissed Hermoso inappropriately, highlighting that "the kiss was not consensual," according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The court fined Rubiales over €10,800 (approximately $12,600) but dismissed prosecutors' calls for a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, a decision that angered feminist organizations who deemed the punishment insufficient. Prosecutors had aimed for a stricter sentence, citing the serious nature of the offense, but their requests were denied, according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

During the proceedings, Rubiales insisted that the kiss was a friendly act, labeled a "peck" meant to celebrate Spain's victory in the World Cup finals. However, the court pointed out that his restraint with other individuals indicated he could have refrained from kissing Hermoso. Additionally, the court maintained a one-year ban preventing Rubiales from approaching Hermoso, as well as an obligation to refrain from contacting her during that period, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

Rubiales plans to appeal the ruling at the Supreme Court, arguing against the verdict and the implications on his professional future. This incident has not only affected Rubiales' career but has also spurred significant dialogue surrounding sexism in sports, with Hermoso becoming a symbol in the movement against such behaviors, according to Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.