Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso believes that an “important precedent” can be created in the aftermath of the Luis Rubiales trial.
Hermoso’s comments come after the former Spanish football federation president was found guilty of sexually assaulting her.
During the medal ceremony at the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney, Rubiales kissed Spain forward Hermoso without her consent following the team’s victory at the tournament.
On Thursday, the Audiencia Nacional court in Spain imposed an 18-month fine equating to 20 euros a day on Rubiales and the ruling further prohibits him from going within 200 metres of Hermoso, or communicating with her, for one year.
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He was acquitted of trying to coerce Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual. Additionally, former Spanish national team coach Jorge Vilda was also found not guilty of coercion along with other Spanish federation staff members at the time, Albert Luque and Ruben Rivera.
Two days after the verdict, Hermoso posted an image of herself on Instagram and concluded her message with the phrase “and now, it’s over”.
“After all, this will create an important precedent in a social environment in which much remains to be done,” Hermoso said in her post on Saturday.
“My heart is full of each of the people who have been, are and will continue with me in this fight.
“And now, it’s over.”
On Friday, Rubiales had an appeal against his three-year ban from football dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
He was banned for breaching article 13 of the FIFA disciplinary code and the suspension was upheld by FIFA’s appeals committee in January 2024.
CAS confirmed they had dismissed his appeal, ruling that the imposed sanction was “reasonable and proportional”.
