Luis Rubiales, the former Spanish Football Association president, has been banned from all football-related activities for three years by FIFA in relation to his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final in August, the governing body has announced.
A statement from FIFA read: “The FIFA disciplinary committee has banned Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF), from all football-related activities at national and international levels for three years, having found that he acted in breach of article 13 of the FIFA disciplinary code.
“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.
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“Mr Rubiales has been notified of the terms of the FIFA disciplinary committee’s decision today.
“In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FIFA disciplinary code, he has 10 days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The decision remains subject to a possible appeal before the FIFA appeal committee.
“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld.”
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Rubiales came under fire earlier this year after he kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation after Spain’s victory over England in the Women’s World Cup final.
Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual.
She was later asked about the incident by Spanish TV network La 1.
“Eh... yeah, I did not enjoy that," she responded.
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Rubiales had attempted to downplay the incident, insisting it was more of a peck than a kiss ('Un pico más que un beso') and claimed there was not a position of dominance.
He doubled down on calling it a mutual, consensual and spontaneous kiss, adding that 'false feminism is a scourge for society'.
However, following increasing pressure, Rubiales eventually stepped down last month, around three weeks after the incident.
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During an interview with Piers Morgan, he was asked when he realised he would resign, to which he replied: "My father, my daughters, I spoke with them.
"They know it's not a question about me. Some friends pretty close to me and they say to me 'Luis you have to focus on you dignity to continue your life because if not probably you are going to damage people you love, the sport you love'.
He added: "When someone is not thinking only about himself, because I had to support a lot in these three weeks, but this is more a question of not only me and being an attitude of me can affect third parties very importantly.
"In this situation now it is more intelligent and the thing I had to do."
Topics: Sport, World News, Football
Claire Reid