Former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) Luis Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activities for three years by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee.
On Monday, the world soccer’s ruling body announced the 46-year old’s ban from all national and international activities for having breached Article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which stipulates the basic rules of decent conduct including a prohibition of insulting or “offensive gestures, signs or language.”
Rubiales, who was suspended for 90 days for kissing Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips non-consensually at this year’s Women’s World Cup final, has been given 10 days to request a ‘motivated decision’, which if sought, will be published on FIFA’s website.
“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld,” a FIFA statement said.
The organisation 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.”
“The decision remains subject to a possible appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.”
Rubiales responded by telling his followers on X, formerly Twitter, he would appeal against the ban.
“I am announcing as of now that I will be appealing,” Rubiales wrote in Spanish.
“I will go to the last resort so that justice is done and the truth shines. Due to the many efforts of some politicians, media and institutions, the disproportion and injustice committed is becoming increasingly clear,” he added in a post which included an emoji of flexed biceps.
Rubiales’ lawyers have thus far not commented on FIFA’s decision.
In September, Rubiales resigned as the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after Hermoso filed a criminal complaint against him.
In her compliant, Hermoso accused Rubiales and his team of issuing a statement without her approval quoting her as saying the kiss was a “mutual, totally spontaneous gesture”.
Former England midfielder Sue Smith has welcomed the latest decision by FIFA to ban Rubiales for three years.
“Something had to be done. I watched it at the time and thought it wasn’t right,” she told Sky Sports. “Women’s football stuck together on this and it’s the right outcome.”
After her team’s World Cup win, Hermoso issued a public statement declaring she felt “vulnerable” and like the “victim of an aggression” when she was publicly kissed without her consent by Rubiales.
“At no time did I consent to the kiss”, she wrote, adding “I won’t tolerate having my word doubted, much less have people investing things I didn’t say.”