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The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Appeals Committee confirmed on Friday the suspension of former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales for three years after it rejected his appeal.
Rubiales was banned from all football-related activities for 3 years on October 30, after kissing player Jenny Ermoso on the lips, amid allegations that the kiss was not consensual.
This incident – which was widely condemned – took place on the podium after the Spanish national team won the Women’s World Cup at the expense of England last August.
FIFA explained that it reached the decision after holding a hearing, although the decision can be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“The Appeal Committee is comfortably satisfied that Mr Rubiales acted in a manner contrary to the principles set out in Article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code during and after the Women’s World Cup Final,” FIFA said, confirming that Rubiales had received notification of the decision.
Rubiales (46 years old) resigned from his position last September, saying that it was no longer possible to defend his seat in the Spanish Football Federation, after he had previously refused to step down from his position despite pressure from players, politicians and pro-women groups.
Yesterday, Thursday, a Spanish Supreme Court judge suggested that Rubiales be put on trial because of the kiss, and said that the investigation showed that the kiss “was not consensual and was a unilateral and sudden gesture.”
He also called for the prosecution of Jorge Villeda, the former coach of the women’s national team, in addition to Albert Luque, the sporting director of the men’s national team, and Ruben Rivera, the federation’s marketing chief, after pressuring Hermoso to say that the kiss was consensual.
