FIFA bans ex-Spanish FA chief Rubiales for three years over kiss scandal

FIFA has banned former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales from the sport for three years for misconduct at the Women’s World Cup final where he forcibly kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the trophy ceremony.

FIFA has banned former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales from the sport for three years for misconduct at the Women’s World Cup final where he forcibly kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the trophy ceremony.

“This case relates to the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on 20 August 2023, for which Mr Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for an initial period of 90 days,” world football’s governing body said in a statement on Monday.

FIFA did not publish details of the verdict reached by its disciplinary committee judges, who had investigated charges relating to “basic rules of decent conduct” and “behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute”.

Rubiales is also under criminal investigation in Spain for kissing Hermoso after the team’s 1-0 victory over England on August 20 in Sydney, Australia. He denied wrongdoing to a judge in Madrid who imposed a restraining order for Rubiales not to contact Hermoso.

At the final whistle in Sydney, Rubiales had also grabbed his crotch as a victory gesture in the exclusive section of seats with Queen Letizia of Spain and 16-year-old Princess Sofia standing nearby.