The FIFA Disciplinary Commission has suspended Luis Rubiales, former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), for three years from all activities related to football at a national and international level, understanding that he violated article thirteen of the FIFA code. body, the highest world football body reported this morning.
Luis Rubiales had been suspended by FIFA since last August 26, a few days after, during the celebration of Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup, he touched his genitals in the box and later, during the medal ceremony, kissed without consent in mouth to the player Jennifer Hermoso on the podium.
Then, the organization suspended the leader for 90 days with the intention that its Disciplinary Commission would make a firm decision on the matter. The day after said provisional suspension, he refused to resign during the Assembly of the federative body and reiterated that the kiss was consensual, which was denied by the soccer player who currently plays for the Mexican team Pachuca.
This caused the Spanish players to resign en masse from playing for the national team “if the current leaders continue”, as well as a large part of the technical team of the women’s organization chart, except for Jorge Vilda, then coach of the world champion team, who, like the men’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, regretted the “inappropriate behavior” of the leader.
Finally, on September 6, Jenni Hermoso reported Rubiales to the National Court Prosecutor’s Office for the kiss she received on the mouth and she filed a complaint against the former president. A few days later, Rubiales himself resigned from his position in the Federation on September 10 with a statement published on his X account (previously Twitter).
“After the swift suspension carried out by FIFA, plus the rest of the procedures opened against me, it is evident that I will not be able to return to my position. Insisting on staying and holding on is not going to contribute to anything positive, among other things, because there are de facto powers that will prevent my return,” he wrote in a letter made public at that time.
The decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Commission was notified this Monday to Rubiales, who, by virtue of the provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, has ten days to request the reasoned decision, which will be published on legal.fifa. com if requested. This decision can be appealed to the FIFA Appeal Committee.
“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respect and protect the integrity of all people, and to ensure that the basic rules of civic conduct are respected,” the statement reads.
