Soccer

Luis Rubiales suspended by Fifa over behaviour at World Cup final

Earlier, Spanish FA threatened legal action over Jenni Hermoso comments

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez greets Luis Rubiales and Spanish women’s national football team. Photograph: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez greets Luis Rubiales and Spanish women’s national football team. Photograph: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images
Sat Aug 26 2023 - 14:39

Luis Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by Fifa following the Spanish Football Federation president’s conduct at last weekend’s women’s World Cup final.

Rubiales has refused to resign from his post despite a big uproar caused by him kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips while she collected her medal after Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sydney last Sunday.

Hermoso stressed on Friday she did not consent to the kiss but her country’s football federation (RFEF) announced an intention to take legal action over the comments made by the forward over Rubiales.

The situation took a further twist as Fifa, which opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales on Thursday, announced in a statement the 46-year-old official was banned “from all football-related activities at national and international level” for an initial period of 90 days.

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Jorge Ivan Palacio, the chairman of the Fifa disciplinary committee, has ordered Rubiales and the RFEF to refrain from contacting or trying to contact Hermoso, either directly or through intermediaries.

Fifa added: “The decision adopted by the chairman of the Fifa disciplinary committee has been communicated to Mr Luis Rubiales, the RFEF and Uefa for due compliance.

“Fifa reiterates its absolute commitment to respect the integrity of all persons and therefore condemns with the utmost vigour any behaviour to the contrary.”

Hermoso accused the RFEF of a “manipulative, hostile and controlling culture” as a total of 81 players signed a letter stating they will not accept national team call-ups while Rubiales remains in situ.

Rubiales also grabbed his crotch in celebration despite being just metres away from Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter in the stadium VIP area.

Rubiales apologised for his behaviour in the VIP area but insisted in his speech on Friday he had been the target of a “social assassination” and repeatedly and emphatically stated “I will not resign”, words that drew applause from the gathered delegates at an extraordinary general assembly of the RFEF.

Rubiales claimed the incident was “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual” but Hermoso, who previously suggested comments playing down the incident attributed to her by the federation were false, hit back with an attack on the organisation as a whole.

“It is not up to me to evaluate communication and integrity practices, but I am sure that as the world champion national team we do not deserve such a manipulative, hostile and controlling culture,” she said in a statement on Twitter on Friday.

“I want to reinforce the position I took from the beginning, considering that I do not have to support the person who has committed this action against my will, without respecting me, at a historic moment for me and for women’s sport.”

Hermoso was quoted in a statement issued by Futpro, the players’ union representing her, as stating “in no case did I seek to raise [lift] the president”.

But the RFEF said on Saturday it has analysed four images of Hermoso and Rubiales embracing, claiming they show it was the former’s force that lifted him.

A statement said: “The RFEF announces the presentation of as many legal actions as may correspond in defence of the honourability of the President of the RFEF.

“In the union’s note, it is said to speak on behalf of Jennifer Hermoso and some statements by the player are attributed to her that are in quotation marks, implying that they have been pronounced by her.

“The RFEF wishes to inform public opinion that the competent bodies of the RFEF that are processing the complaints filed with the Federation have tried to contact Jennifer Hermoso, having been unsuccessful at all times.

“The RFEF and Mr President will demonstrate each of the lies that are spread either by someone on behalf of the player or, if applicable, by the player herself.

“The RFEF and the President, given the seriousness of the content of the press release from the Futpro Union, will initiate the corresponding legal actions.

“The RFEF regrets that after such an extraordinary sporting success as the one that occurred in the Soccer World Championship, it cannot be celebrated as the situation and success deserves for completely non-sports reasons.”