Earlier this year, Spain won a tightly-contested Women’s World Cup Final against England to become only the second nation to have won both the Men’s and Women’s World Cup. What should have been a joyous post-match ceremony was marred, however, by the actions of Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales. According to The Athletic, those actions have led to a three-year ban.
FIFA Bans Luis Rubiales for Three Years
Luis Rubiales has been banned from "all football-related activities" for three years by FIFA after kissing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso at the World Cup final.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) October 30, 2023
What Exactly Happened with Rubiales?
Staff writers for The Athletic wrote an article detailing what Rubiales did and how FIFA decided to respond. Following Spain’s World Cup victory, the Spaniard was on hand to help hand out the winner’s medals. According to the piece, when star player Jenni Hermoso went to receive her medal, Rubiales kissed her “on the lips and grabbed his crotch in celebration.”
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Rubiales resigned from his post in September after Hermoso maintained that the kiss was unwanted. FIFA found the 46-year-old guilty of breaching “article 13 of the FIFA disciplinary code.” Their decision was to ban him from football activities for a span of three years. The Spanish Women’s National Team had already played the tournament without many star players and suffered boycotts after the Final.
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FIFA ensured that the suspension of Rubiales was aimed at “protecting the integrity of all people.” A former player, the Las Palmas native was also a vice president of UEFA before stepping down from his roles. This marks the second consecutive non-interim President of the Spanish Football Federation who has had to resign. Angel Maria Villar was arrested and resigned in 2017 on suspicion of embezzling.
Guardian Article
Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian also reported on the Rubiales news. The 46-year-old could be facing more than a ban depending on the exact outcome of all investigations. A Spanish court stated that “there could be grounds to charge Rubiales with sexual assault as well as coercion.” Hermoso, who remains integral to the squad’s success, has continued to voice her desire that appropriate action be taken.
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Rubiales claimed last month that he would fight to prove himself innocent. He claims that the kiss was consensual, but Hermoso has labelled it an “impulsive act, sexist, out of place and without any type of consent from my part.” Pedro Rocha has been leading the Spanish Football Federation as an interim President until a permanent replacement for Rubiales can be found.
