The president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales - EFE/JJ Guillén
FIFA has temporarily suspended Luis Rubiales, the head of the Spanish football federation, from all football activities for 90 days. This decision comes after he kissed Jenni Hermoso without her consent following the Women’s World Cup final.
Rubiales’ Defiance and Claims
Despite growing pressure and FIFA’s investigation, Rubiales refused to resign, claiming the kiss was consensual.
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Hermoso, the Pachuca forward, disagreed, stating she felt vulnerable and was a victim of an unwanted, impulsive, and sexist act.
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Ongoing Investigations
FIFA, which governs world football, announced on Saturday that Rubiales would be suspended for 90 days while they investigate further. They also ordered Rubiales not to contact Hermoso or her close contacts during this time.
Consequences and Reactions
UEFA, the European football body, has not commented on the situation yet. Rubiales is part of UEFA’s executive committee.
Rubiales, through the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), stated that he would legally defend himself, trusting FIFA to reveal the truth and prove his innocence.
In response, the federation accused Hermoso of changing her story and insisted the kiss had been consensual.
This incident caused a lot of controversy after Spain’s World Cup win over England. Besides the kiss with Hermoso, Rubiales was seen hugging and kissing other members of the Spanish team. He also made a controversial gesture during the celebration.
After Rubiales announced he wouldn’t resign, Spain’s government initiated legal proceedings to remove him from his position. Additionally, all 23 players from the winning team and more than 50 others denounced Rubiales’ behaviour and said they wouldn’t return if he remained in charge. Several staff members resigned, and coach Jorge Vilda regretted Rubiales’ actions.
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This situation has been a significant topic in Spain, even overshadowing Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez’s news conference. He expressed support for the players and condemned Rubiales’ behaviour but urged focusing on the players’ achievements instead.
Rubiales’ Controversial Leadership
Rubiales has been a controversial figure during his time as the head of Spanish football. The federation also faced criticism over its handling of complaints from Spain’s women’s national team players, with some changes made but disputes remaining.
