The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has handed a three-year ban to former Spanish Football Federation president, Luis Rubiales.
Luis Rubiales became a subject of controversies after kissing Spanish footballer, Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win over England in August.
He became the most unpopular man in Spain after the event with many calling for his resignation but he refused which led to FIFA asking him to step aside for investigations to proceed.
After weeks of investigations, FIFA on Monday, October 30, 2023, announced that Luis Rubiales had been banned for three years for breaching article 13 of their disciplinary code.
Rubiales, 46, claimed the kiss at the post-match presentation ceremony was “mutual” and “consensual” but Hermoso said it was not consensual, and filed a legal complaint.
World governing body Fifa confirmed the case concerned 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”.
It added: “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.”
Last month, a hearing at the national court in Madrid considered a criminal complaint of sexual assault and coercion against Rubiales, who was subsequently banned from going within 200m of Hermoso.
Rubiales’ actions drew widespread criticism, with a majority of the World Cup-winning squad boycotting the national team until changes were made within the football federation.
World Cup-winning manager Jorge Vilda was sacked in September and is being investigated as part of the criminal case against Rubiales.
Hermoso, who said her image had been tarnished by the kiss, returned to the national side in October and scored an 89th-minute winner against Italy.
