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On August 26, Saturday, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) provision ally suspended Luis Rubiales after he kissed the reigning Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso on the lips. At Stadium Australia, the incident happened during the trophy presentation, after Spain defeated England 1-0 in the grand finale of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Luis Rubiales, the President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) refused to stand down from the post after the scandalous incident. The 46-year-old believed that the kiss was consensual while stating that the governing body of the sport is sticking by him, with a threat of legal action against Jenni Hermoso, who had said that, “she did not enjoy it (the kiss).”
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Then, the 33-year-old had clarified in a letter, signed by 56 players, that the kiss was “never consensual,” while revealing that she has been put under “constant pressure” to justify the wrongdoing from Luis Rubiales. Also, she talked about the entire Women’s World Cup winning team refusing to play for Spain until the current President of the RFEF is removed.
This led to FIFA taking the necessary action on Luis Rubiales, suspending him for an initial period of 90 days, which will be effective immediately. They also ordered the suspended official to not contact Jenni Hermoso, through himself or third parties.
The detailed statement from FIFA read:
“The chairman of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), in use of the powers granted by article 51 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC), has decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level.
This suspension, which will be effective as of today, is for an initial period of 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings opened against Mr. Luis Rubiales on Thursday, August 24.
Likewise, the chairman of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee and in order to preserve, among other factors, the fundamental rights of the national soccer team player Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and the good order of the disciplinary proceedings before this disciplinary body, has issued two additional directives (article 7 FDC) by which he orders Mr. Luis Rubiales to refrain, through himself or third parties, from contacting or attempting to contact the professional player of the Spanish national football team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso or her close environment. Likewise, the RFEF and its officials or employees, directly or through third parties, are ordered to refrain from contacting the professional player of the Spanish national team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and her close environment.
The decision adopted by the chairman of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee has been communicated today to Mr Luis Rubiales, the RFEF and Uefa for due compliance.”
