Luis Rubiales, the former president of Spain’s football federation, cannot go within 200 meters of footballer Jenni Hermoso, the player he controversially kissed after Spain’s World Cup victory last month, a judge ruled on Friday.
During the World Cup celebrations in Australia last month, Rubiales gave Hermoso a non-consensual kiss on the lips, igniting widespread criticism about sexism in the industry and later leading to his resignation.
“We continue to maintain that it was a non-consensual kiss,” Hermoso’s lawyer Carla Vall said Friday, according to local news reports after the judge’s decision. “The whole country, and the whole world, has been able to observe that there was no consent whatsoever, which is what we will also demonstrate in court,” the lawyer added.
Vall added the “humiliating act” had “tarnished a sporting milestone,” overshadowing the victory of the Spanish Women’s football team.
Rubiales, who is facing investigations over coercion and sexual assault in Spain’s National Court, has denied the allegations against him, the BBC reported.
Rubiales is not allowed to contact Hermoso in addition to the restraining order, local media reported.
The Prosecutor’s Office initially asked for a 500-meter restraining order and mandatory court appearances by Rubiales every 30 days but the judge denied both requests, according to Spanish media.
