Spain's ex-soccer chief Luis Rubiales convicted of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso
CBSFEB 20
Spain: Ex-Soccer Boss Found Guilty of Sexual Assault Over World Cup Kiss
Above: Former president of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales surrounded by media as he leaves court in east Madrid, Spain on Feb. 11, 2025. Image copyright: Oscar Del Pozo/AFP/Contributor via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
While this sentence was short of the jail time asked for by prosecutors, and despite the fact that Rubiales and three other men were not found guilty of coercion over the pressure campaign, the man at the heart of this scandal was found guilty of sexual assault. This ruling will have a significant and positive impact on Spanish football specifically, and Spanish society at large.
Narrative B
More than 18 months since the actions of Rubiales stole the thunder of the Spanish women's national team and their World Cup win, it's not clear whether Rubiales' sentence and guilty verdict provides the justice female players were searching for. A historic female sporting victory was dwarfed by discourse centered on a man, and all these conversations only go toward encouraging a climate of fear around women's safety, rather than celebrating female acheivement.
Narrative C
Rubiales' kiss was a spontaneous gesture of celebration during a moment of national triumph, occurring without bad faith in a time of maximum jubilation. The incident was blown out of proportion amidst cultural and political posturing, and became a witch hunt against Rubiales.