Fifa has banned former Spanish Football Association president Luis Rubiales from all football-related activity for three years.
Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation following Spain’s victory over England in the Fifa Women’s World Cup final on 20 August, after which Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual.
While Rubiales initially attempted to carry on in his role, he subsequently resigned last month and has now been punished for a breach of article 13 of the Fifa disciplinary code.
“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,” a statement read.
“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.
“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 10 days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The decision remains subject to a possible appeal before the Fifa appeal committee.
“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.”
After Rubiales’s resignation from RFEF was made public on 10 September, he stated his desire to “defend my innocence” and insisted he had “faith” in the truth.
The actions of the former Uefa vice-president at the final were widely condemned after he also celebrated his nation’s victory by grabbing his crotch while standing alongside Spain’s Queen Letizia and 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia in the VIP box in Sydney.
Rubiales did apologise for his actions in a video statement the day after, but later insisted he would not resign and claimed the kiss was “consensual” during a speech in front of Spain’s regional federations, clubs, players, coaches and referees in Madrid.
All of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad subsequently indicated they would be unavailable for national team duty while Rubiales remained in post before he was banned by Fifa from all football-related activities for an initial 90-day period on 26 August.
Spain manager Jorge Vilda, who showed his support for Rubiales, was sacked on 5 September and the RFEF apologised for the “enormous damage” caused by its former president’s actions.
After Hermoso formally submitted a complaint about Rubiales to Spain’s national prosecutor’s office that same week, the complaint of sexual assault and an allegation of coercion was filed by the office to the high court.
Rubiales did eventually resign, but later in September refused to apologise directly to Hermoso and continued to insist it had been a consensual kiss.
