English footballer Lucy Bronze praises Spanish players for speaking out during Luis Rubiales trial

English footballer and former Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze has praised Spanish players for their courage during the trial of Luis Rubiales, former Royal Spanish Football Federation chief, for kissing Jennifer Hermoso.

Rubiales has been found guilty of sexually assaulting footballer Hermoso by kissing her on the lips during the on-field medal ceremony after Spain’s triumph in 2023. The Spanish high court has set a penalty of $11,270 – to be paid in $21 daily installments.

But the court acquitted Rubiales of coercion. Prosecutors had been seeking a prison sentence of 2.5 years for the 47-year-old former soccer boss. The judge opted not to sentence Rubiales to prison time, calling the assault a “sporadic act” despite also deeming it as “reprehensible”.

Luis Rubiales has also been ordered to pay $3,130 in compensation to Hermoso. The judge said this amount is proportionate due to the “moral damages” that had been done and the fact that it has been seen by thousands of people, reported CNN.