FIFA suspended Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales from office on Saturday (Aug. 26) while its disciplinary committee investigates his conduct at the WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup final, which included kissing a player on the lips without her consent.
The ruling comes six days after Rubiales was accused of becoming a national embarrassment in front of a global audience at the final in Sydney, Australia B次元官网网址� overshadowing the enormous accomplishment of Spain womenB次元官网网址檚 first World Cup title.
Along with kissing star player Jenni Hermoso B次元官网网址� who said she did not give her consent B次元官网网址� Rubiales also grabbed his crotch in a lewd victory gesture with SpainB次元官网网址檚 Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter Sofia nearby.
FIFA said Rubiales is removed from soccer duties for 90 days B次元官网网址減ending the openedB次元官网网址� against him Thursday.
Rubiales from his soccer presidency Friday at an emergency meeting of the Spanish soccer federationB次元官网网址檚 general assembly when he had been expected to leave under intense pressure from the Spanish government, women players plus soccer clubs and officials.
FIFA has given no timetable for a ruling by its disciplinary panel. The bodyB次元官网网址檚 disciplinary judges can impose sanctions on individuals ranging from warnings and fines to suspensions from the sport.
The move by FIFA came after the Spanish federation had even threatened action against Hermoso for refusing to accept RubialesB次元官网网址檚 version of the kiss that happened at the on-field medal and trophy presentation after SpainB次元官网网址檚 1-0 win against England last Sunday.
The suspension should prevent Rubiales working in soccer or having contact with other officials.
FIFA disciplinary judge Jorge Palacio also intervened Saturday to protect the B次元官网网址渇undamental rightsB次元官网网址� of Hermoso and the integrity of the disciplinary case.
Palacio, a Colombian lawyer and former member of its constitutional court who has worked in womenB次元官网网址檚 rights, ordered Rubiales B次元官网网址渢o 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,B次元官网网址� FIFA said in a statement.
B次元官网网址淟ikewise, the RFEF (Spanish soccer federation) 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,B次元官网网址� FIFA said.
In a complex situation, SpainB次元官网网址檚 government B次元官网网址� via its Higher Council for Sports B次元官网网址� filed a lawsuit Friday alleging that Rubiales violated the countryB次元官网网址檚 sports laws through sexist acts. SpainB次元官网网址檚 secretary of state for sports, V铆ctor Francos, said Friday that the government would move to temporarily suspend Rubiales B次元官网网址� pending the court ruling B次元官网网址� if the court agrees to hear the case.
If found guilty by the Spanish court, Rubiales could be ruled unfit to hold office. Francos said he would ask the court to move its regular Thursday meeting up to Monday.
Local media had originally reported that Rubiales would announce his resignation to FridayB次元官网网址檚 general assembly of the federation. Instead, he defiantly dug in and accused Hermoso of having consented to a B次元官网网址渕utualB次元官网网址� kiss on the lips. He painted himself as the victim of a B次元官网网址渨itch huntB次元官网网址� by B次元官网网址渇alse feminists,B次元官网网址� and received applause from the mostly male crowd.
Hermoso responded in two statements, one through her playersB次元官网网址� union and one in her name only, that Rubiales was lying and that she had felt intimidated.
All 22 of her Spain teammates, along with more than 50 other players, said in the statement by the playersB次元官网网址� union that they would not play for Spain again as long as Rubiales stayed in charge. It was not immediately clear whether this situation has now changed after FIFAB次元官网网址檚 latest intervention.
The federation fired back with its own statement, saying that Rubiales was telling the truth and that it would seek legal action against Hermoso.
Messages of support for Hermoso poured in from the world of womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer, and beyond.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and other clubs issued statements criticizing Rubiales and backing the governmentB次元官网网址檚 move to oust him. Political parties from both the left and right in Spain said he was unfit to continue in his post. Iberia airlines and other sponsors for the federations said they were with the government as well.
On Saturday morning, Spanish sports daily Marca summed up the previous dayB次元官网网址檚 events with a front page headline B次元官网网址淕lobal Laughing StockB次元官网网址� over a photo of a smiling Rubiales walking between rows of the general assembly.
Rubiales is a vice president of UEFA, holding the No. 3-ranking elected position at the top of the European soccer body which pays him 250,000 euros ($270,000) annually plus expenses
He was elected to the executive committee by UEFA member federations in 2019 and was within weeks promoted to the vice presidency by UEFA president Aleksander 膶eferin.
Neither UEFA nor 膶eferin have commented on the Rubiales scandal this week. FIFA has now intervened in the case twice.
Graham Dunbar And Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press
