FIFA has officially imposed a three-year ban on former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales following his forced kiss on World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso.
The football governing body provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days after the unsolicited kiss occurred during the medal ceremony following Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup in Sydney back in August.
Hermoso expressed feeling “vulnerable and like the victim of an assault” in a social media statement, describing the kiss as “an impulsive, macho act, out of place and without any consent on my part.”
Rubiales, who maintained that the kiss was consensual, resigned as head of the Spanish football federation in September.
In a statement, FIFA declared, “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.”
FIFA also mentioned that Rubiales has been notified of the decision, giving him a 10-day window to request a “motivated decision,” which would be published on FIFA’s legal website if requested.
The statement clarifies that the decision is subject to potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.
FIFA reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of all individuals and ensuring the maintenance of basic standards of decent conduct.
