FIFA suspends Spain’s soccer president after unsolicited kiss
GENEVA — FIFA suspended Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales from office on Saturday while its disciplinary committee investigates his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final, which included kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s victory.
The provisional suspension comes less than a week after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in Sydney, Australia, and a day after Rubiales refused to resign, despite intense pressure from the Spanish government, women players plus soccer clubs and officials. Rubiales’ conduct, which also included grabbing his crotch, has overshadowed the enormous accomplishment of Spain‘s first Women’s World Cup title.
Hermoso has said she did not consent to the kiss, and the team’s players have said they will not play any more games as long as Rubiales is in charge. It was not immediately clear how FIFA’s latest intervention might affect that.
FIFA said Rubiales is removed from soccer duties for 90 days “pending the disciplinary proceedings opened” against him Thursday.
The Spanish federation said in a statement that vice president Pedro Rocha will be acting president. It added that Rubiales “has complete trust in the FIFA’s procedures and will use this opportunity to start his defense so that the truth is known and he is proven innocent.” The federation has threatened legal action against Hermoso for refusing to accept Rubiales’ version of the kiss that happened at the on-field medal and trophy presentation.
FIFA has given no timetable for a ruling by its disciplinary panel. The body’s disciplinary judges can impose sanctions on individuals ranging from warnings and fines to suspensions from the sport.
The provisional suspension should prevent Rubiales, who is a UEFA vice president as well, from working in soccer or having contact with other officials.
Rubiales has been leading the joint bid by Spain, Portugal, Morocco and, possibly, Ukraine to host the 2030 World Cup. His suspension means that Rubiales cannot attend UEFA meetings or vote in October to decide the winning bids for the 2028 and 2032 European Championships.
FIFA disciplinary judge Jorge Palacio also intervened Saturday to protect the “fundamental rights” of Hermoso and the integrity of the disciplinary case.
The president of Spain’s football federation kissed a player without her consent, among other acts of machismo. By refusing to resign, Rubiales adds to his abuse by stealing the ability of fans and players to celebrate a momentous victory.
Palacio, a Colombian lawyer and former member of its constitutional court who has worked in women’s rights, ordered 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,” FIFA said in a statement. Hermoso had said that the federation pressured her to publicly back Rubiales.
“Likewise, the RFEF [Spanish soccer federation] 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,” FIFA said.
Spain’s government — via its Higher Council for Sports — filed a lawsuit Friday alleging that Rubiales violated the country’s sports laws through sexist acts. Spain’s secretary of state for sports, Víctor Francos, said the government would move to temporarily suspend Rubiales — pending the court ruling — if the court agrees to hear the case. If found guilty by the Spanish court, Rubiales could be ruled unfit to hold office.
Local media originally reported that Rubiales would announce his resignation to Friday’s general assembly of the federation. Instead, he dug in, painting himself as the victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists” and receiving applause from the mostly male crowd.
Hermoso responded that Rubiales was lying about the kiss being consensual and that she had felt intimidated.
The federation backed Rubiales, saying he was telling the truth.
While Rubiales held his ground, federation vice president Rafael del Amo, who had been in charge of women’s soccer, resigned. Four assistant coaches for Spain’s senior team, plus two coaches of the women’s youth teams, and five other staff members for the senior and youth women’s teams also resigned on Saturday.
Messages of support for Hermoso poured in from the world of women’s soccer, and beyond.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and other clubs issued statements criticizing Rubiales and backing the government’s move to oust him. The European players’ union backs Hermoso, as does Spain’s women’s league. Political parties from both the left and right in Spain said Rubiales was unfit to continue in his post. Iberia airlines and other sponsors for the federations said they were with the government as well.
Rubiales mustered some support, at least inside the federation. Among those applauding him at the assembly were Spain’s women’s coach Jorge Vilda and Spain’s men’s coach Luis de la Fuente. Former Spain coach Luis Enrique, now at Paris Saint-Germain, lauded his overall management of the federation from France.
On Saturday morning, Spanish sports daily Marca summed up the previous day’s events with a front-page headline of “Global Laughing Stock” over a photo of a smiling Rubiales walking between rows of the general assembly.
