Shamed former Spanish football president Luis Rubiales banned by FIFA for three years over Jenni Hermoso ‘kiss-gate’ scandal
- Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips as Spain celebrated their World Cup win
- Amid intense criticism, he resigned as Spanish federation chief in September
- Now, FIFA has banned Rubiales from all football activity for three years
Shamed former Spanish football president Luis Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activity for three years.
Rubiales kissed female footballer Jenni Hermoso on the lips without consent following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win over England in August.
World football’s governing body FIFA, which had initially banned Rubiales for 90 days, has now suspended him for three years.
A FIFA statement released on Monday 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.’
The incident completely overshadowed Spain’s World Cup win, with Rubiales kissing Hermoso as he presented the players with their medals.
Former Spanish Football Association president Luis Rubiales has been banned for three years
Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips without her consent following Spain’s World Cup success
Hermoso said the kiss following Spain’s World Cup triumph in Sydney wasn’t consensual
Hermoso argued the kiss was non-consensual, while Rubiales argued to the contrary and defiantly refused to resign from his position.
A number of Spain players signed a statement saying they’d refused to play for the national side until Rubiales was removed.
Eventually, on September 10, Rubiales did resign as Spanish federation president and also from his role as a UEFA vice-president, having been provisionally suspended by FIFA pending investigations.
The FIFA statement added: ‘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.’
Rubiales, 46, remains under criminal investigation in Spain and denies wrongdoing.
Rubiales seen leaving the high court on Madrid after denying allegations of sexual assault and coercion last month
Last month, a court handed down a restraining order which prohibited Rubiales from going within 200 metres of Hermoso, or contacting her.
It came after he appeared at Madrid’s Audencia Nacional court to deny allegations of sexual assault and coercion filed by the footballer.
Rubiales also carried Spain player Athenea del Castillo over his shoulder during post-match celebrations after the World Cup win and was spotted by cameras grabbing his crotch to mark the victory.
Queen Letizia of Spain and 16-year-old Princess Sofía were standing nearby when he did so.
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