Spain's ex-football chief Rubiales fined over kiss without consent

Spain's High Court said on Thursday it had found former football federation boss Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent, and set a fine of over 10,000 euros ($10,434.00), but acquitted him of coercion.

Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for Rubiales in a case that sparked a debate in Spain about sexism in women's football and wider Spanish society.

"The ruling bans Rubiales from going within a 200-meter radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for one year," the court said in a statement.

Rubiales, 47, was accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso on the mouth. He was also accused - along with three other former football federation officials - of attempting to then coerce her into saying the kiss, at the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney, was consensual.

A lawyer for Hermoso was not immediately available for comment.