2024-01-26 13:35:38
Women’s Football World Cup 2023fileThe former president of the Spanish football federation had surprised player Jenni Hermoso last August after their team’s victory in the World Cup.
We are not about to see Luis Rubiales next to a football again. Fifa confirmed this Friday, January 26, the suspension of all football-related activities of the former boss of the Spanish federation, Luis Rubiales, for a period of three years. The 46-year-old gave player Jenni Hermoso a surprise kiss on the lips in August after the Spanish team’s victory in the Women’s World Cup final.
“After analyzing the arguments presented to it”, the appeal committee of the International Football Federation “decided to reject” Luis Rubiales’ appeal “and to confirm the sanction” which was “imposed on him”, announced the sporting body in a press release published this Friday afternoon. This decision may be the subject of a new appeal “before the Court of Arbitration for Sport”, however specifies Fifa, which says it is determined “to protect the integrity of all people and to ensure that the basic rules of decent conduct are respected.
Fifa specifically accused him of having violated article 13 of its Disciplinary Code, entitled “Offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play”, and citing among other examples “the violation of the basic rules of decency » or “behavior damaging the image of football”. Luis Rubiales, who has denied since the start of the affair any “sexual connotation” to his gesture, claiming to have acted under the influence of “emotion” and in “a moment of happiness”, immediately announced his intention to appeal .
“A unilateral initiative, made by surprise”
Fifa’s announcement comes the day after the Spanish investigating judge in charge of the investigation into this case requested on Thursday the referral to court of the former boss of Spanish football, considering that the kiss had ” not been consented to.”
Judge Francisco de Jorge added that “this is a unilateral initiative, made by surprise”, underlines the National Court in a press release.
Refusing to resign for “a little consensual kiss”, Rubiales attacked, in a resounding speech five days after the events, a supposed “false feminism”. And argued that he had obtained the player’s authorization before kissing her. A version denied by Jenni Hermoso who said she “felt vulnerable and victim […] of an impulsive and sexist act, inappropriate and without any consent of [sa] part».
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