FIFA has provisionally suspended Luis Rubiales and told him not to contact Jennifer Hermoso. Spain’s association meanwhile accused Hermoso of lying – and published photos.
The world football association FIFA announced the decision of its disciplinary committee on Saturday (08/26/2023). Rubiales be “temporarily suspended from all footballing activities at national and international level”. The suspension lasts for 90 days until the disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales open on Thursday, August 24.
FIFA on Thursday initiated proceedings against Rubiales, who also sits on the Executive Committee of the European Football Union (UEFA). Rubiales kissed Spanish international Hermoso on the mouth at Sunday’s awards ceremony after beating European champions England 1-0 in the World Cup final.
No contact
FIFA also asked Rubiales not to contact Hermoso or those around her, either himself or through third parties. You should also refrain from attempting to contact them. The RFEF association was also prohibited from making contact.
“FIFA reaffirms its unconditional commitment to respecting the integrity of all individuals and therefore strongly condemns any conduct to the contrary,” underlined the world association.
RFEF accuses Hermoso of lying
The Spanish association had previously launched a counter-offensive, announced legal action against Hermoso at. Their representation that the kiss on her mouth was not by mutual consent was a lie.
To substantiate this, the federation released four photos showing that Hermoso, in the exuberance of celebration, lifted Rubiales, hugged him and agreed to the kiss. Rubiales himself also presented himself as a victim in a speech to the association’s extraordinary general assembly on Friday in Madrid and refused to resign as many had demanded.
Spain’s players are on strike
The RFEF responded with the late-night statement to Hermoso, who reiterated in a statement from the players’ union FutPro on Friday night that she had not consented to the kiss under any circumstances. “I felt vulnerable and a victim of aggression, impulsive behavior, macho, out of place and without my consent,” it said in the message.
Hermoso also gets support from her teammates. The entire 23-man team that won the world title no longer wants to compete for Spain for the time being. Their strike is expected to last as long as Rubiales is in office.