FIFA suspends Luis Rubiales for 90 days while investigating forced kiss

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee announced this Saturday morning the suspension for 90 days of Luis Rubiales, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The suspension takes effect immediately and will continue until the disciplinary process is concluded for the kiss without consent given by Rubiales to striker Jenni Hermoso, during Spain’s celebration of the title in the Women’s World Cup.

“The president of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), using the powers conferred by article 51 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities in national and international level. This suspension, which will come into effect as of today, is for an initial period of 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings opened against Mr. Luis Rubiales on Thursday, August 24,” reported the entity in an official note.

The note issued by the Disciplinary Committee also highlights the order for Rubiales not to try to make contact with the Spanish national team player or with people close to her. The directive also extends to other directors and employees of the Spanish Football Federation. FIFA also said it would not provide further information about the disciplinary process until the final decision is taken.

PRONOUNCEMENTS AND PRESSURE

Luis Rubiales said, during the extraordinary general meeting of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), that he will not resign as president of the entity.. The meeting held this Friday was called for the leader to give explanations about the kiss given by him to the attacker. According to the Spanish press, the expectation was that he would hand over the position.

What was seen when Rubiales took the stage and spoke into the microphone, broadcast live on YouTube, was far from a resignation. He gave an angry speech, blamed the whole situation on “false feminism” and repeated at the top of his voice that he would not resign, as he received a standing ovation from those present, including Jorge Vilda and Luis de La Fuente, coaches of the women’s and men’s national teams of the Spain, respectively.

“She lifted me off the ground, grabbed me by the hips, we almost fell and hugged. It was she who grabbed my arms and pulled me close to her body. I told her to forget about the penalty, ‘you were fantastic and without you guys we wouldn’t have won the World Cup. She replied ‘you’re a star’. I said ‘a little kiss?’ and she said ‘okay’, hitting my side and leaving laughing,” said the president in his version.

After the speeches, athletes came out in defense of Hermoso, who also spoke. Hours after Rubiales stated that there was consent to the kiss given by him, the player herself manifested herself by saying that she had not consented to the kiss “at any time”. The 23 world champion players signed the statement and joined in a boycott: they will not defend the selection as long as “the current managers continue in command”.

Hermoso, on vacation in Ibiza, has been doing his best to preserve himself and has only manifested himself through the Futpro union. “I want to clarify that at no time did I consent to the kiss he gave me and in no case did I try to lift the president. I do not tolerate my word being questioned, much less that words are invented that I have not said,” he said.

There is pressure coming from all sides, including the Spanish government. Teresa Ribera, Spain’s third vice president and minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, said the government will do “everything in its power” to see Rubiales leave the RFEF. Later, this Friday, Victor Francos, president of the National Sports Council of Spain, started legal proceedings against the leader so that he responds to the Sports Court. Betis striker Borja Iglesias has announced his retirement from the Spanish men’s national team until “things change and this type of act does not go unpunished”.

Read the full FIFA Disciplinary Committee note:

“The president of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), using the powers conferred by article 51 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities in national and international level.This suspension, which will take effect as of today, is for an initial period of 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings opened against Mr. Luis Rubiales on Thursday, August 24th.

Likewise, the president of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with the objective of preserving, among other factors, the fundamental rights of the player of the national soccer team, Ms. Jennifer Hermoso, and the good order of the disciplinary process before this disciplinary body, issued two additional guidelines (article 7 FDC) by which Mr. Luis Rubiales is ordered to refrain, by himself or by third parties, from contacting or trying to contact the professional player of the Spanish national soccer team, Ms. Jennifer Hermoso, or her close environment. Likewise, the RFEF and its directors or employees, directly or through third parties, are obliged to refrain from contacting the professional player of the Spanish national team, Ms. Jennifer Hermoso, and her close environment.

The decision adopted by the president of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee was communicated today to Mr. Luis Rubiales, the RFEF and UEFA for due compliance.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will not provide further information on these disciplinary proceedings until a final decision has been taken.

FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respect the integrity of all people and therefore condemns with the utmost vigor any behavior to the contrary.”