By Funmilayo Akinyemi/Akure
Luis Rubiales, the former President of Spain’s Football Federation, has broken a new record for the wrong reasons: offering a non consensual kiss for a huge sum of ₦16 million (€10,800 or £8,942).
The former football administrator was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Jennifer Hermoso Fuentes, a Spanish professional footballer, without her consent.
247nextnews.com recalls that as Spain’s players received their medals after defeating England in Sydney to win the 2023 World Cup, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips.
The incident was witnessed by millions of television viewers and an entire stadium triggered protests and calls for the resignation of Rubiales.
The 34-year-old Fuentes who plays as a forward for Liga MX Femenil club Tigres UANL and the Spain national team, said the incident had “stained one of the happiest days of my life”.
In her testimony earlier this month, Hermoso insisted that she had not given Rubiales permission and that the incident had “stained one of the happiest days of my life”.
She told the court in Madrid: “My boss was kissing me, and this shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting. A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so,” she said.
Prosecutors had demanded a prison sentence for Rubiales, who told a court he was “absolutely sure” Hermoso had given her consent before he kissed her.
He described the kiss as an “act of affection”, adding that in the moment it was “something completely spontaneous”.
The Spanish High Court however found Rubiales guilty and ordered him to pay a fine of €10,800 or £8,942 (₦16 million).
He has stated his intention to appeal the verdict.
BBC
