Football
FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, has banned Luis Rubiales – the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) – from all soccer-related activities for three years over his unwanted kiss on Spain’s Women’s World Cup-winning star player, Jennifer Hermoso. In a statement released on Monday, FIFA said Rubiales’ actions during the medal ceremony at the Women’s World Cup final in August were in breach of article 13 of its disciplinary code. “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,” the governing body said. FIFA added that the ban, which covers “all football-related activities at national and international levels,” remained subject to a possible appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee. The fallout over Rubiales’ behavior triggered a crisis in Spanish soccer and sparked condemnation in the Iberian nation and across the world. It also overshadowed Spain’s historic triumph – the country’s first ever Women’s World Cup title – in Sydney, Australia. Following weeks of fierce criticism, Rubiales resigned last month as the country’s soccer president. World Cup-winning manager Jorge Vilda was also fired from his role in the aftermath of the incident, with his deputy, Montse Tomé, being named his replacement – the country’s first ever woman in the role. Rubiales, 46, had described the kiss as “mutual” – a claim Hermoso denied, saying she did not consent and was not respected. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Rubiales defiantly refused to resign despite public outcry and protests and was given a provisional 90-day ban from the sport by FIFA. “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,” FIFA said in its statement on Monday. Article 13 of FIFA’s disciplinary code – titled “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play” – allows the organization to sanction someone if they are deemed to have violated “the basic rules of decent conduct” or behaved “in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute.” Rubiales is currently under investigation for “the crimes of sexual assault and coercion,” in a case being brought by Spanish prosecutors. https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/MQ3SMGC https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/98R6J3F https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/98MNMYK https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/RBWFHXD https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/N8VG3ZL https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/N8T6NYZ https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/9N79MHL https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/9N29QR6 https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/N8ZWHCP https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/9NWCFSV https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NJQSZ7P https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NJT57TP https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NJFKV6C https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NQ8862L https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NSCVCHX https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/DLHMGH9 https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NTCH86L https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NT67QBB https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NT5Q8K2 https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NM82FGK https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/D9WG7QV https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NNV29XX https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/D9P6835 https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/DYBP36G https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/DY6YHCN https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/D29L5R6 https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/D2CQ3FR https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NGKMNHM https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/D2SYL7Z https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/DQMSKHW https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/NPHX9BB https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/DQH5DT6 https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/DQZ8JTK https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/N6LSRXF https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/Y8CJBVX https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/FRYYTP9 https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/YL62F6N https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/FRPF8GK https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/YW9NBLK https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/FPC9QHM https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/YWWJXNR https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/YWZVY22 https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/YSVJHHY https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/YTZVGJZ https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/YMGZ7QS https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/YNDK33L https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/YF3HC6J https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/YFPNFJB https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/372KSCX https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/37WCDRD He appeared in court last month after which the Spanish Prosecutor’s office said Rubiales had answered questions from the judge and all parties involved and denied the charges.