FIFA suspends Spain football chief for kissing Jennifer Hermoso after Women's World Cup final

Add as a preferred source on Google

FIFA on Saturday provisionally suspended the president of Spanish FA Luis Rubiales for kissing Jennifer Hermoso without consent after the Women's World Cup final in Sydney last weekend. Post Spain's 1-0 win over England, Rubiales was caught on camera kissing Hermoso on the lips.

Rubiales has refused to resign from his post after kissing the 33-year-old Spain footballer who has stressed she did not consent for the kiss. It has been reported that Rubiales also made some other obscene gestures post the victory.

A Fifa statement said: “The chairman of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), in use of the powers granted by article 51 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC), has decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level.

“This suspension, which will be effective as of today, is for an initial period of 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings opened against Mr. Luis Rubiales on Thursday, August 24.

“Likewise, the chairman of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee and in order to preserve, among other factors, the fundamental rights of the national soccer team player Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and the good order of the disciplinary proceedings before this disciplinary body, has issued two additional directives (article 7 FDC) by which he orders Mr. Luis Rubiales to refrain, through himself or third parties, from contacting or attempting to contact the professional player of the Spanish national football team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso or her close environment.

“Likewise, the RFEF and its officials or employees, directly or through third parties, are ordered to refrain from contacting the professional player of the Spanish national team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and her close environment.

“The decision adopted by the chairman of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee has been communicated today to Mr Luis Rubiales, the RFEF and Uefa for due compliance.”

The suspension of the head of Spain's football association comes after the Spanish women's team refused to play any other games until Luis Rubiales was removed from the position. On Saturday morning, the Spanish football federation threatened to sue Hermoso for lying and defamation, along with 79 women’s football players.