FIFA has announced that the three-year ban on all football-related activities for former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chief Luis Rubiales has been upheld on appeal for his actions following the Women’s World Cup final in August.
The ban was initially handed down in October for behaving “in a manner contrary to the principles enshrined under article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips, grabbed his crotch, and threw another player over his shoulder in the aftermath of Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sydney.
FIFA added that Rubiales has been notified of the decision.
The 46-year-old resigned in September saying his position at the RFEF had become untenable. He had initially vowed not to stand down despite pressure from players, politicians and women’s groups.
A Spanish High Court judge proposed on Thursday that Rubiales should stand trial over the kiss, saying that the investigation showed the kiss “was not consensual and was a unilateral and surprising initiative”.
The judge also sought a trial for former women’s team coach Jorge Vilda, as well as Albert Luque, the men’s team’s sport director, and Ruben Rivera, the federation’s marketing chief, for pressuring Hermoso to say the kiss was consensual.
