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 Spain’s ex-football boss Rubiales fined for World Cup kiss

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Rubiales (right) with Hermoso

 Spain’s former football federation boss, Luis Rubiales, has been found guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Her­moso without her consent and ordered to pay a fine of €10,800 (£8,942), Spain’s High Court has ruled.

He was acquitted of coercion, for allegedly trying to pressure Hermoso into saying publicly that the kiss was consensual.

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

The incident triggered protests and calls for Rubiales’s resignation.

The ruling also banned Rubiales from going within a 200-meter 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.

Prosecutors had demanded a prison sentence for Rubiales, who last week told a court he was “absolutely sure” Hermoso had given her con­sent before he kissed her.

He described the kiss as an “act of affection”, adding that in the moment it was “something completely spontaneous”.

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

Rubiales was accused of sexual assault and of trying to coerce Hermoso into saying the kiss had been consensual.

The incident was witnessed by millions of television viewers and an entire stadium after the Spanish women’s team won the 2023 World Cup.

The ensuing uproar gave momentum to a “Me Too”-style movement in the Spanish women’s game, in which players sought to combat sexism and achieve parity with their male peers.

Rubiales resigned in September 2023 follow­ing weeks of resisting pressure to stand down, and after Fifa suspended him and Spanish prose­cutors opened an investigation. -BBC

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Pitch Invader in Ghana-Chad Game Sentenced to 100 Days Imprisonment

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Mohammed Huzeinu, 21, has been sentenced to 100 days in prison by an Accra District Court for invading the pitch during Ghana’s match against Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21, 2022.

Huzeinu’s actions disrupted the game, an offense that has potential financial consequences for the Association (GFA), as the Association is likely to be fined whenever such incidents occur.

Pitch invasions are considered a serious breach of security and disrupt the smooth running of games.

The sentencing serves as a strong warning to fans to respect stadium regulations and maintain order during matches.

The FA has consistently urged fans to refrain from such actions, emphasising the importance of discipline and adherence to match day protocols to avoid fines and maintain Ghana’s reputation in international football.

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Queensland Intl Sch wins maiden Rising Star Rugby League tournament

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Rising Star Rugby League tournament

Queensland Inter­national School made history by emerging champions in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions at the inaugural Rising Star Rugby League Tournament U15 held at the Englebert School in Accra.

The event, organised by the Rugby League Federation Ghana (RLFG) in collaboration with Fu­turestars Charity and Salford Red Devils, provided a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills and passion for rugby league.

The all-play-all format tourna­ment featured five schools, 100 children (50 boys and 50 girls), aged 9-15, and over 20 volunteers.

Queensland Boys began the tournament with a 2-2 drawn game with Future Leaders Boys before defeating Englebert Boys 4-0 and Twedaase Boys 2-1 to emerge victorious, with Twedaase School, Tema Cluster Boys, Future Leaders Boys and Englebert Boys follow­ing in that order.

The girls from Queensland followed in the footsteps of their male counterparts, beating both Future Leaders and Tema Cluster 2-1 before going down by the same scoreline to Twedaase Girls.

They, however, ensured the top spot with a 4-3 victory over Englebert Girls in the final game, leaving Twedaase, Future Leaders, Englebert and Tema Cluster Girls to follow in that order on the medal table.

Special guest of honour, Mr Keith McMahon, Deputy British High Commissioner, commended RLFG for the initiative, noting that the energy and talent on display were inspiring.

“The tournament is a fantastic platform for these young athletes to develop their skills and grow the sport in Ghana and I urge the RLFG to continue with their good works,” he added.

On her part, the president of RLFG, Madam Juliana Storey, congratulated all the participating teams for their stellar performance, adding that the passion, determina­tion, and talent on display confirm that her outfit is on the right path in its mission to grow the sport.

She promised to We continue investing in grassroots develop­ment to ensure a bright future for the young athletes.

RLFG General Manager, Mr Jafaru Mustapha, said the enthu­siasm from these young athletes during the tournament is proof that rugby league has a promising future and stated that they were going to expand the tournament and provide more opportunities for young players across Ghana to enjoy the game.

He thanked Mr Emmanuel Okyne-Tetteh, Futurestars Charity Country leader, for the opportuni­ty to partner with his outfit to hold a successful tournament.

 BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY

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PHOTOS: Black Stars hold training at Grande Stade Al Hoceima ahead of FIFA World Cup qualifier against Madagascar

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The Black Stars held their official training at Grande Stade Al Hoceima on Sunday in preparation for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Madagascar.

Otto Addo’s men appeared sharp and lively during training under the lights, following their arrival in Morocco on Saturday. All 23 players are in good condition ahead of the crucial Group I game, scheduled for Monday, March 24, 2025.

Ghana recorded a resounding victory against Chad on Friday, climbing to the top of the table with 12 points. They aim to cement their position with a victory over Madagascar.

The Group I fixture is scheduled to kick off at 19:00 Hrs at Grande Stade Al Hoceima, Morocco. Our Chief Photographer sent us back these photos:


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