FIFA Bans Luis Rubiales For 3 Years For Kissing World Cup Star

Following a legal battle that has been ongoing for some time, FIFA has banned Luis Rubiales from all professional football-related activities for three years.

Rubiales, who was previously the President of the Spanish Football Association, was temporarily banned from football for 90 days by the world football governing body before his resignation in September.

After disciplinary procedures were taken against Rubiales, FIFA found the 46-year-old Spanish football administrator guilty of breaking Article 13 of its disciplinary code.

This came after Rubiales reportedly planted a kiss on the lips of Spanish forward, Jenni Hermoso, during Spain’s triumph over England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

While Rubiales claimed the kiss was “mutual” and “consensual,” Hermoso stated that it was not, and filed a lawsuit which has now been upgraded to a criminal proceeding.

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In its statement confirming the ban against Rubiales, FIFA said the decision related to “events that occurred during the FIFA Women’s World Cup final on August 20, 2023, for which Mr. Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for an initial period of 90 days.”

FIFA has also noted that Rubiales has ten days to request a motivated decision and that if he does, it will be published on legal.fifa.com.

With Rubiales’ ban in place, he will no longer participate in any professional football activities.

FIFA’s statement also included a reminder of its commitment to “respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld.”

It is worth noting that although Luis Rubiales has been banned by FIFA, the criminal proceedings against him in connection to the kissing scandal will continue in a national court in Madrid.

This ban marks another instance where FIFA has taken a stance in upholding its disciplinary code, and signals its willingness to take firm action against any individual or entity that violates it.

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