2023-08-24 15:23:59
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez with the President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, at the Moncloa Palace, August 22, 2023. JUAN MEDINA / REUTERS
Nearly a week after Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup final, the controversy over Luis Rubiales’ gesture continues to grow. During the medal ceremony, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) imposed a kiss on the player Jenni Hermoso. Thursday, August 24, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) opened disciplinary proceedings against him.
Also read: The Professional Women’s Football League calls for the dismissal of the president of the Spanish federation after his forced kiss to a player
“These facts could constitute a violation of paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 13 of the FIFA disciplinary code”, specifies the world body. dedicated to « discrimination »the text to which FIFA refers punishes in particular the fact of “to undermine the dignity or integrity” of somebody “because of his sex” by a suspension “running for at least ten games, or any other appropriate disciplinary action”.
“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting the integrity of all, and therefore strongly condemns any behavior that goes against this value”, adds the statement of the authority, which had remained silent until then on this affair. She did not give a timeline for her decision.
An extraordinary general meeting on Friday
Whatever the decision taken by the international federation, it may not have to decide on the continuation of Luis Rubiales, who arrived at the head of the federation in 2018. An extraordinary general meeting of the RFEF has indeed was convened on Friday to discuss this subject. For its part, the Professional Women’s Football League has already demanded the dismissal of the president of the Spanish federation.
After being massively relayed on social networks, the video of the medal presentation provoked a wave of reactions. On Tuesday, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, had described this forced kiss as“unacceptable”judging that ” excuses [de Luis Rubiales] are insufficient”. The day before, Luis Rubiales had explained on X (formerly Twitter) that his gesture was “without bad intentions in a moment of euphoria. Here, we experienced it as something natural, but outside, an agitation has formed. »
If he justified himself by putting forward “his wonderful relationship” with Jenni Hermoso, the player gave a different version. On Wednesday, she claimed “exemplary measures” against its president, through a press release posted on social networks by the Futpro union, for “ensure the rights of players”.
#FIFA #opens #disciplinary #proceedings #Luis #Rubiales #forced #kiss #player #Jenni #Hermoso