FORMER Spanish football president, Luis Rubiales and national player Jennifer Hermoso, are planning to appeal against Thursday’s verdict in the “kiss” scandal, various media reports said on Friday.
A Madrid court on Thursday fined former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Rubies 11,000 euros (11,480 dollars) for kissing Spain’s Hermoso on the lips without her consent after the women’s 2023 World Cup final.
Rubiales, who went on trial earlier this month, was found guilty of sexually assaulting Hermoso in the incident during the trophy ceremony after Spain won the title in Sydney.
Prosecutors had asked for Rubiales to be jailed for two and a half years and they could also appeal the judgment.
State TV station RTVE, football newspaper AS and other Spanish media said, citing sources close to the individuals.
Neither Hermoso nor Rubiales, 47, have yet made a public statement about the verdict.
The relatively lenient sentence handed down by the state court in Madrid was sharply criticised by women’s rights activists, politicians, the media and other observers.
He was also banned from coming within 200 metres of the player and from communicating with her for a year.
Legal experts interviewed by Spanish media believe it is extremely unlikely that the judgment will be overturned. (dpa/NAN)
