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Disgraced former Spanish football president Luis Rubiales has faced a setback as his appeal against the three-year ban imposed by FIFA on all football-related activities has been rejected.
In a statement, FIFA highlighted that the appeal committee found ample evidence that Mr. Rubiales had acted against the principles outlined in Article 13 of the FIFA disciplinary code during and after the FIFA Women’s World Cup final. Article 13 pertains to violations of fair play and offensive behavior.
The incident in question involved Rubiales kissing female footballer Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent after Spain’s Women’s World Cup final victory over England in August. Following Hermoso’s public statement that the kiss was non-consensual, she filed a legal complaint.
Initially, FIFA had handed Rubiales a 90-day ban, but it has now been extended to three years, as confirmed in a statement released on Monday: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has banned Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF), from all football-related activities at national and international levels for three years, having found that he acted in breach of article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
Rubiales, 46, continues to be under criminal investigation in Spain and vehemently denies any wrongdoing. In the preceding month, a court issued a restraining order preventing Rubiales from approaching within 200 meters of Hermoso or making any contact with her.
