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Jenni Hermoso was not the victim people wanted her to be – we should be grateful to her for that

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Jenni Hermoso was not the victim people wanted her to be – we should be grateful to her for that

The important thing about the sentencing of Luis Rubiales is not whether he will go to prison, or how many thousands of euros he will have to pay to compensate Jenni Hermoso, the World Cup-winning footballer he kissed without consent while the world was watching.

The important thing is that it represents an end to the impunity of this powerful man who believed himself to be above the law.

Rubiales’ sentencing provides a reminder that the law is, and should be, the same for everyone.

Many will remember Hermoso for being ‘the one who was kissed’, rather than as the best striker the Spain women’s national team has ever had. As an iconic player who has scored more goals for her country than any other woman in history and who played a vital role off the pitch, too, in transforming women’s football in Spain.

The superstar who, at the age of 33 and towards the end of her career, helped her country win its first Women’s World Cup.

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She was humiliated in front of the watching world by Rubiales when the former head of the Spain Football Federation (RFEF) kissed her after she was handed her World Cup winner’s medal on August 20, 2023. She will have to live with that forever.

“Since that day, my life has been on standby,” Hermoso said during her testimony in Rubiales’ trial at Spain’s High Court in Madrid in early February.

Rubiales denied her the best day of her life and took away her freedom.


Hermoso, flanked by team-mates Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes, lifts the World Cup (Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)

The trial lasted two weeks. The judge delivered his verdict in less than one.

Rubiales, 47, was found guilty of sexual assault but he and the three other co-accused — the former Spain women’s head coach Jorge Vilda, the former Newcastle United forward and ex-RFEF sporting director Albert Luque and former marketing director Ruben Rivera — were acquitted of coercion. The prosecution alleged they had coerced Hermoso to agree with Rubiales’ version of events. They denied any wrongdoing.

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In the written reasons for the verdict, the judge gave full credibility to Hermoso’s testimony. The court statement said: “There was no reason or motive for her to be untruthful in her narration of the facts with the sole purpose of harming Rubiales.”

Rubiales has been fined more than €10,000 (£8,289; $11,400) and the ruling from Spain’s High Court bans him from going within 200 metres of Hermoso and communicating with her for one year. He was also ordered to pay a further €3,000 for moral damages and half of Hermoso’s legal costs.

In 2022, legislation was passed in Spain, referred to as the ‘solo si es si’ law (‘only yes means yes’), stating sexual consent must be affirmative by acts that “clearly express the will of the person” and that it cannot be assumed by default or through silence.

The new law no longer distinguishes between ‘abuse’ or ‘sexual assault’, but it does distinguish between a wide range of offences by also establishing that violence or intimidation is not necessary to commit a sexual assault. That means a new range of sentences that now go from four to 12 years, whereas before it was from six to 12.

Although criticised by some as it meant sentences already handed down would be reviewed and reduced, feminist organisations consulted by The Athletic said what the victim often needs was for someone to believe them, rather than a greater or lesser sentence.

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The judge’s verdict on Thursday was the equivalent of an “I believe you” to Hermoso — in the most public of settings, and one that will be reported and broadcast across the globe. Rubiales was not sent to prison, but what is important to Hermoso is that she can finally feel like people believe her.


Rubiales outside the court in San Fernando de Henares (Oscar del Pozo/AFP via Getty Images)

The trial leaves us with many things to think about, one being the repeated revictimisation of the victim in court. When cross-examining Hermoso, the defence lawyers focused on the player’s behaviour after Rubiales sexually assaulted her. They wanted the perfect victim, one who refused to celebrate a World Cup because of what had happened. One who couldn’t laugh or who couldn’t party. They wanted a victim who just cried in the corner for something that was not her fault.

In her testimony to the judge on the first day of the trial, Hermoso was impressive. She showed herself to be the strong person anyone who has met her or followed her career knows that she is, and she portrayed an imperfect victim, certainly in the eyes of the defence lawyers. She was a victim who, despite what had happened, could enjoy her professional success — that she and her team-mates had been crowned champions of the world.

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Hermoso did not cower in front of her aggressor in court. She had the option of testifying without Rubiales in the courtroom, but she said no. She sat down metres away from her attacker to give her statement and to answer questions from his lawyer, Olga Tubau. She even maintained her concentration and kept her cool on the multiple occasions Rubiales was whispering and commenting while she was talking.

“I don’t have to be crying in a room or throwing myself to the ground when the act happens to imply that I didn’t like it (the kiss),” Hermoso told the court. “At that moment, when I’m celebrating being world champion, drinking alcohol and eating, I’m happy and smiling because it’s the greatest achievement I can get in my life.”

Society often looks for the perfect victim, the one who acts the way everyone wants them to act. The aggressor may make mistakes, they are a human being. But the victim must act like a victim or they will be publicly discredited.

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If this trial has taught us that a woman can be sexually assaulted and behave however she wants afterwards and still be considered a victim, then we should be eternally grateful to Jenni Hermoso for that.

The courage she has shown will help those victims who follow.

(Top photo: Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

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Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza wins 2025 Heisman Trophy

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Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza wins 2025 Heisman Trophy

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Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza became the first Hoosier to win the coveted Heisman Trophy, college football’s most prestigious award.

Mendoza claimed 2,392 first-place votes, beating Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (1,435 votes), Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (719 votes) and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (432 votes).

Mendoza guided the Hoosiers to their first No. 1 ranking and the top seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, throwing for 2,980 yards and a nation-best 33 touchdown passes while also running for six scores. 

Indiana, the last unbeaten team in major college football, will play a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game in the Rose Bowl Jan. 1.

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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza runs off the field after a game against Wisconsin Nov. 15, 2025, in Bloomington, Ind (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Mendoza, the Hoosiers’ first-year starter after transferring from California, is the triggerman for an offense that surpassed program records for touchdowns and points set during last season’s surprise run to the CFP.

A redshirt junior, the once lightly recruited Miami native is the second Heisman finalist in school history, joining 1989 runner-up Anthony Thompson. The trophy was established in 1935.

NO 2 INDIANA CAPS OFF COMEBACK WIN OVER PENN STATE WITH SENSATIONAL TOUCHDOWN, KEEPS UNDEFEATED SEASON ALIVE

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Mendoza is the seventh Indiana player to earn a top 10 finish in Heisman balloting, and it marks another first in program history. It now has had players in the top 10 of Heisman voting in back-to-back years. Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke was ninth last year.

Quarterbacks have won the Heisman four of the last five years. Travis Hunter of Colorado, who played wide receiver and cornerback, won last season.

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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws before a game against Wisconsin Nov. 15, 2025, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Mendoza was named The Associated Press Player of the Year earlier this week and picked up the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards Friday night while Love won the Doak Walker Award.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Prep talk: The Shaws enjoy a memorable basketball moment at Oak Park

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Prep talk: The Shaws enjoy a memorable basketball moment at Oak Park

Sometimes it can be difficult when a high school coach also has his son on the team, but then there are those unforgettable moments that make every second spent together magical. Such a moment happened on Friday night for Oak Park basketball coach Aaron Shaw and his son, sophomore guard Grant Shaw.

Grant made a three-pointer from beyond the top of the key as the buzzer sounded to give host Oak Park a 54-51 win over rival Agoura.

Then, for some unknown reason at the time, Grant ran in the opposite direction, followed by his teammates and delirious Oak Park fans. There were so many people celebrating he ended up pushed into the gym foyer.

Watching from the bench was his father, who didn’t understand why his son was headed out of the gym. “The coaches were asking, ‘Where is he going?’” he said.

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It turns out the surge of people celebrating forced Grant into the foyer. His father reminded him afterward to perhaps next time stay in the gym.

But make no mistake about, Aaron has won two Southern Section titles as a coach, and this moment ranks up among the best.

“Proud dad moment,” he said.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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Navy tops Army with late touchdown as Trump’s attendance in Baltimore sparks protests

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Navy tops Army with late touchdown as Trump’s attendance in Baltimore sparks protests

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For the second year in a row, the Navy Midshipmen have won the Commander-in-Chief Trophy.

The Midshipmen earned a gutsy 17-16 victory over Army in one of the greatest rivalries in sports.

Navy got out to a scorching-hot start, as they scored a touchdown on their first drive, with Blake Horvath rushing for 45 of the 75 yards on the drive and running in for the score. He also had an 11-yard pass.

 

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President Donald Trump greets players after the coin toss and before the start of the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at M&T Bank Stadium, Saturday, in Baltimore, Md. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Army, though, answered right back with an identical drive, going 13 plays for 75 yards — this one ended with Cale Hellums punching one in.

Navy’s offense was stalled for a long while after, as their next three drives ended in a punt, fumble, and interception. In the meantime, the Black Knights were able to tack on three more field goals to go up, 16-7. Late in the third, the Midshipmen finally added more points on the scoreboard with a field goal that cut their deficit to three.

Early in the fourth, Navy forced an Army interception. Navy had the ball at the goal line but fumbled on a quarterback sneak, losing seven yards. Horvath hit Eli Heidenrich in the end zone, though, and the ensuing kick gave the Midshipmen their first lead since the first drive of the game. 

Navy promptly forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with less than five minutes to go. Navy lost a fumble when trying for a first down that would have iced the game, but the play was reviewed, and the call was reversed. Thus, Navy had a fourth-and-1 and kept the offense on the field. They got the first down that iced the game.

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US President Donald Trump tosses a coin before the college football game between the US Army and Navy in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 13, 2025.  (Photo by Alex Wroblewski / AFP via Getty Images)

CHICAGO RADIO HOST RIPS CUBS PLAYER FOR TURNING POINT EVENT ATTENDANCE, LIKENS IT TO ‘NAZI-ADJACENT PEP RALLY’

With the win, Navy earned the Commander-in-Chief trophy by also defeating Air Force earlier in the year.

The game was its usual old-school ground-and-pound style of football, as there were only 24 pass attempts compared to 86 runs.

President Donald Trump attended the game for the seventh time, and his second in as many years since being elected again. Trump participated in the coin flip, but not before protesters wielded lewd signs opposing Trump on the street leading up to the stadium. 

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Protests were expected for the game in the blue city, as Trump has suggested sending the National Guard to Baltimore to help address the city’s rampant crime. Baltimore consistently ranks among U.S. cities with high crime rates, often appearing in the top 5 for violent crimes, especially homicides and robberies. 

U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd-L) walks onto the field for the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen on Dec. 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. The teams are competing for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, with President Trump attending the rivalry for the second consecutive year.  (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

The protests against Trump also come on the same day that officials said two U.S. Army soldiers and a U.S. interpreter were killed in an ambush attack in Syria. 

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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