A three year kiss

The disciplinary committee of the International Football Federation (FIFA) has suspended the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, from football activities at the national and international levels for three years. The decision comes two months after a scandal erupted when Mr. Rubiales publicly kissed team captain Jennifer Hermoso after the Spanish women’s team won the World Cup.

That the FIFA Disciplinary Committee suspended former RFEF President Luis Rubiales from football activities for three years, reported FIFA press service. It was established that Mr. Rubiales “violated Article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This case relates to events that occurred during the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in August 2023.”

A breach of Article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code involves offensive behavior by players and officials, including breaches of the fundamental rules of decent conduct, and actions that bring football into disrepute. Let us remind you that on August 20, the Spanish team defeated the England team in the final of the Women’s World Cup – 1:0, winning this tournament for the first time. At the awards ceremony, Luis Rubiales placed the medal on team captain Jennifer Hermoso and kissed the soccer player on the lips. Soon after it a scandal eruptedwhich included the country’s Minister of Culture and Sports Mikel Iseta, Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz and even Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Spanish politicians called Mr. Rubiales’ actions unacceptable, calling for his resignation.

26 August FIFA Disciplinary Committee He has made a decision temporarily suspend Luis Rubiales from the position of President of the RFEF, and on September 10 Luis Rubiales reportedthat he is leaving the post of president of this organization.

Jennifer Hermoso herself, who at first claimed that the actions of Luis Rubiales were only a manifestation of sympathy (there are video and photographic materials indicating that both Ms. Hermoso herself and other players of the Spanish national team took the incident as a joke), later changed her position and filed a lawsuit. the prosecutor’s office alleging sexual violence by an official who soon testified in the case as a suspect.

The judge ordered him to be banned from coming within 200 meters of Jennifer Hermoso.

Mr Rubiales is also prohibited from contacting her during the trial.

“Mr Rubiales has been advised of the terms of today’s decision by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. According to the rules, he has ten days to request a reasoned decision, which, if requested, will subsequently be published. The decision can still be appealed to the FIFA Appeals Committee. The organization reaffirms its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of people and ensuring compliance with the basic rules of decent behavior,” the press service said in a statement.

Evgeniy Fedyakov