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Following his uninvited kiss to Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso, Spanish FA President Luis Rubiales has been subject to disciplinary action by FIFA's Disciplinary Committee. The incident, which occurred as Rubiales was handing the players their gold medals following their 1-0 victory against England in the final on Sunday, provoked fury both inside and outside of Spain. Hermoso said such actions "never go unpunished."
The Women's World Cup final incidents led to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee initiating disciplinary procedures against Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Association, as announced in a statement.
The code's article 13 addresses "offensive behaviour" by players and officials, especially "violating the basic rules of decent conduct" and "behaving in a way that brings the sport into disrepute." Liga F, the women's football league in Spain, also spoke against him and demanded the dismissal of Rubiales, saying that it had complained to the head of the National Sports Council (CSD) about his "very serious actions and behaviour."
Hermoso noted on Wednesday that her union, FUTPRO, and her agency, TMJ, were protecting her interests in the situation after she said after the final that she did not appreciate Rubiales' kiss.
A special meeting of the Spanish Football Federation, which the 46-year-old Rubiales has been in charge of for the past five years, is scheduled for this Friday in Madrid. Questions about the situation are welcome on the agenda.
It's uncertain whether the meeting would increase support for Rubiales or address the overwhelming calls for his ouster from Spanish football and government leaders. The European candidature to host the men's World Cup in 2030 is being led by Rubiales, who served as president of the Spanish Players' Union for eight years before becoming federation president in 2018.
