Footballer Jenni Hermoso to appeal verdict of World Cup kiss case

Footballer Jenni Hermoso will appeal the verdict of the Luis Rubiales World Cup kiss case, her lawyer has said.

On Thursday, Spain's former football federation boss Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso without her consent and ordered by Spain's High Court to pay a fine of €10,800 (£8,942).

Rubiales and three of his former colleagues were acquitted of coercion, after allegedly trying to pressure Hermoso into publicly saying that the kiss was consensual.

The incident sparked nationwide protests and calls for the resignation of Rubiales, who has also said he will appeal against the verdict.

During the 2023 World Cup, as Spain's players received their medals after defeating England in Sydney to win, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips.

He later described the kiss as an "act of affection" and told the court that he was "absolutely sure" Hermoso had given her consent.

In her testimony earlier this month, Hermoso insisted that she had not given consent and that the incident had "stained one of the happiest days of my life".

Following the verdict on Thursday, Hermoso's lawyer, Angel Chavarria, said Hermoso intended to appeal, but did not provide further details.

Prosecutors had demanded a prison sentence for Rubiales.

The High Court ruling banned Rubiales from going within a 200m radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for one year, the court said in a statement.

Three of Rubiales's former colleagues who were also on trial, accused of colluding in the alleged coercion - Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Rubén Rivera, the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF)'s former head of marketing, and Albert Luque, former sporting director - were cleared of those charges.