Football
FIFA suspend former Spanish FA president following Women’s World Cup final incident
Spain won the final of the Women’s World Cup 2023 which was held in Australia and New Zealand.
Following kissing Spain’s Jenni Hermoso before her permission, disgraced former RFEF chief Luis Rubiales received a three-year football suspension. After the Women’s World Cup final, Rubiales, the former head of Spain’s Football Association (RFEF), was banned from all football-related activities. This was handed out by FIFA’s disciplinary committee for three years for violating article 13 in the FIFA disciplinary code.
After Spain defeated England in Sydney, the 46-year-old gave Hermoso a kiss on the lips. This incident occurred as she picked up her winner’s medal. Later on, she denied having given her approval, which set off a series of happenings. This included the backroom staff and Spanish players staging a mass walkout.
Rubiales constantly insisted that the kiss was consensual and refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing. This happened even after quitting as president of the RFEF.
When FIFA swiftly stepped in in August, he was given a temporary 90-day suspension. However, the governing body ultimately decided on a three-year punishment that will keep him out of sport until 2026. Nonetheless, there is still the option to file an appeal.
FIFA released a statement saying that, “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 statement further read that, “This case relates to 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.”
“The decision remains subject to a possible appeal” : FIFA
The 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 ten days in which to request a motivated decision. The decision remains subject to a possible appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.”
The statement concluded by saying that. “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.”
