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The committee which imposed a three-year ban on former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales for his conduct at the Women\u2019s World Cup final said it had been tempted to impose a more severe sanction.<\/p>\n
A FIFA disciplinary committee said Rubiales had acted with \u201ca sense of complete impunity\u201d at the Spain v England match on August 20 in Sydney.<\/p>\n
He grabbed his genitals in celebration of Spain\u2019s victory while stood in the VIP area and kissed midfielder Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the medal presentation. Hermoso has said she did not consent to the kiss.<\/p>\n
The committee, which imposed a ban on Rubiales on October 30, said in the written grounds of its decision: \u201cAll incidents assessed collectively, (together with Rubiales\u2019 position in relation to them) appear to reveal a sense of complete impunity on the part of the respondent within the football environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was absolutely and categorically expected of him to maintain and embody the highest levels of professionalism, beyond the usual standards, especially at a moment where his country was at the apex level of women\u2019s football.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this regard, the committee could not stress enough that \u2013 regardless of the emotional state he was in during and after the match \u2013 (Rubiales\u2019) behaviour was inexcusable and unacceptable, especially considering his high rank within the football ecosystem at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile taking into account the undeniable media impact of (Rubiales\u2019) behaviour and its repercussions on the reputation of football as well as of FIFA, but also and more importantly, on (Hermoso\u2019s) mental state, the committee considered that a ban for a duration of three years was justified.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe committee wished to stress that it was tempted to impose more severe sanctions in view of the seriousness and gravity of the incidents at stake as well as of the profound negative impact that (Rubiales\u2019) actions had on the image of FIFA, women\u2019s football and women\u2019s sport in general.\u201d<\/p>\n
The committee received evidence from Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, also a FIFA vice-president, who was stood next to Rubiales during the presentation ceremony.<\/p>\n
The judgement stated that, in her account, Hewitt said Rubiales had \u201ccupped and stroked the face of the English player Laura Coombs, which (Hewitt) thought was slightly odd.\u201d Rubiales then became more \u201cboisterous\u201d when the Spanish players stepped on to the podium.<\/p>\n
On the Hermoso kiss, Hewitt\u2019s account was that there was \u201cno evidence\u201d that it was consensual.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was not possible for her to pull away without significant force and her body language, including rolling her eyes, implied that she was embarrassed,\u201d the committee\u2019s summary of Hewitt\u2019s evidence stated.<\/p>\n
Rubiales, who resigned from the RFEF on September 10 after initially vowing not to stand down, indicated his intention to appeal against the ban on the day it was issued.<\/p>\n
The committee identified a number of aggravating factors which encouraged it to impose a three-year ban:<\/p>\n
:: the lack of a public apology:: Rubiales\u2019 continued insistence that the Hermoso kiss was consensual, publicly insulting \u201call those who saw this incident differently\u201d as \u201cidiots and stupid people\u201d:: the publication of a statement on RFEF platforms in Hermoso\u2019s name which was not written or authorised by her:: using the RFEF general assembly as a public forum to defend himself and distort the reality of the kiss in his favour:: pressuring and \u201cemotionally coercing\u201d Hermoso on numerous occasions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Committee submitted that the fact that the Respondent (i) exercised a hierarchical link towards the players concerned, and (ii) appeared to have abused his position to engage in (inappropriate) physical contacts with those players, undoubtedly constituted significant aggravating factors,\u201d the written judgement stated.<\/p>\n