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By: Kwame Bediako

Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has lost an appeal against his sexual assault conviction related to the 2023 World Cup incident. Rubiales was fined €10,800 (£9,206) in February after he kissed Jenni Hermoso without her consent during the medal ceremony. The appeal court upheld the fine and dismissed a separate plea from prosecutors who sought a retrial and a jail sentence for Rubiales.

The incident, in which Rubiales grabbed Hermoso’s head and kissed her on the lips, sparked widespread protests and calls for his resignation. Rubiales maintained that his actions were an act of spontaneous joy and denied any sexual assault. He described the kiss as an “act of affection,” asserting it was unintentional and not meant to disrespect Hermoso.

On June 25, 2025, the Audiencia Nacional clarified that it did not consider the kiss to be consensual, stating that Hermoso had objected to the gesture from the beginning. The court found that Rubiales had the capacity to restrain himself, noting that he had managed to do so with other players and could have easily done so with Hermoso as well. The court reaffirmed the original sentence, which included a ban preventing Rubiales from approaching within 200 meters of Hermoso and from contacting her for a year.

The court also upheld its decision not to convict Rubiales of coercion, despite prosecutors’ claims that he pressured Hermoso into publicly stating the kiss was consensual. Hermoso stated she had not given permission for the kiss, feeling it disrespected her and tainted a joyful moment. Three other former Spanish Football Federation employees, coach Jorge Vilda, marketing executive Rubén Rivera, and sporting director Albert Luque, were also cleared of coercion.

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By: Kwame Bediako 

Barcelona are close to securing the signature of Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey on a free transfer, according to reports from Spain. The 32-year-old is set to leave Arsenal when his contract expires on June 30, after declining a new deal with Arsenal. His priority is to return to Spain and continue competing at the highest level of European football.

Sources indicate that Barcelona’s interest in Partey is progressing rapidly, with the club having already completed deals for Joan Garcia and nearing agreements for Nico Williams and Roony Bardghji. The Catalan giants are now stepping up negotiations with the midfielder’s representatives, aiming to finalize the transfer soon. The move is seen as a strategic addition to bolster their squad ahead of the new season.

Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, admire Partey as a valuable asset due to his physicality, tactical discipline, and extensive experience at the top level of European football. With no transfer fee required, the club considers the acquisition both financially prudent and beneficial from a sporting perspective, strengthening their midfield options.

While Partey has garnered interest from other European clubs, Barcelona’s project and the appeal of returning to La Liga have placed them in a strong position to complete the deal. The club’s ongoing transfer activities signal their intent to build a competitive squad for the upcoming season.

A formal offer is anticipated in the coming days, and if negotiations succeed, Partey could be unveiled as a Barcelona player before the start of pre-season training. The move would mark a significant step in Barcelona’s summer transfer plans, reinforcing their midfield with an experienced international player.

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