- The former head of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, has been banned from any football-related activity for a period of three years.
- Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England.
- According to the statement, Rubiales has ten days to request the ruling and then submit an appeal to FIFA.
The former head of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, has been banned from any football-related activity for a period of three years.
Following Rubiales’s lip-kissing of Jenni Hermoso at the World Cup final, the 46-year-old was banned by FIFA’s disciplinary committee. Last month, Rubiales resigned from his job after a protracted, turbulent struggle to maintain his position.
Luis Rubiales resigned as Spanish FA President after a protracted, turbulent struggle to maintain his position. Photo/CNN
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Rubiales’ behavior during the post-match celebrations following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England—their first global title in the women’s game—cast a very negative light on what should have been a joyous occasion for the country and its team. While investigations were launched over his behavior, the former Levante and Alicante defender departed on September 10th, despite his best efforts to hold onto his position and maintain that the kiss had been consensual despite Jenni Hermoso’s claims to the contrary.
Following the start of a player boycott in 2022, Jorge Vilda, the head coach of the women’s team, resigned from his position and later accepted a position as head coach in Morocco.
Earlier this month, Rubiales appeared in court in Madrid following accusations of coercion and sexual assault by state prosecutors in Spain. He denies the accusations. A court injunction prohibiting him from approaching Hermoso or establishing contact with the Barcelona forward also applies to him.
Former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales is accused of non-consensually kissing Spain Women’s player Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |
Hermoso, who claimed that the kiss had damaged her reputation, rejoined the national team in October and won the match against Italy in the 89th minute.
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Hermoso, meantime, celebrated her comeback to the Spanish national team on Friday by winning their Nations League match in Italy in the 89th minute. “What better joy than to get back here and feel good again, to score the goal that gets the win — now I can only smile,” the forward stated to TVE.
According to the statement, Rubiales has ten days to request the ruling and then submit an appeal to FIFA.
“This case relates to the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on 20 August 2023, for which Mr Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for an initial period of 90 days,” FIFA stated.
Some people supported Rubiales in spite of the negative response. Angeles Bejar, his mother, went on a hunger strike in opposition to what she called “the inhumane and bloody hunt” that her son was subjected to.
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