FIFA has suspended former president of the Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities for three years. The cause of the punishment is an incident in which Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips.
As a result of the public uproar caused by this controversial act—which Hermoso said wasn’t consensual—Rubio resigned from his post. Here, we examine the major incidents that led up to the prohibition and the current dispute.
The Controversial Kiss A Point of No Return
Luis Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso’s post-match kiss following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final triumph served as the turning point in this issue. The claim that the kiss was not consensual was made by Spanish forward Hermoso, and it was widely condemned by the public. Rubiales decided to step down from his post as a result of the event, which clouded Spain’s historic World Cup victory in Sydney, Australia.
BREAKING: Luis Rubiales has been banned from football for three years by FIFA. pic.twitter.com/7GQ9dD5hgU
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 30, 2023
A Three-Year Proscription for Derogatory Conduct by FIFA
Because Rubiales violated Article 13 of FIFA’s disciplinary code, the global governing body of football announced a three-year penalty. Outrageous conduct and transgressions of fair play standards are covered in Article 13. What happened at the Fifa Women’s World Cup final on August 20, 2023, was the cause of the ban. Before the three-year ban was imposed, Rubiales was placed on temporary suspension for ninety days.
Rubiales’s Willingness to File an Appeal and Refuse to Respond to Charges
Luis Rubiales announced his plan to file an appeal after being banned, writing on social media, “I will go to the last resort to see that justice is done and that the truth shines through.” Denigrating the claims of non-consensual behaviour, he insisted that the kiss was “mutual.” Due to Rubiales’s decision to file an appeal, it appears that the case’s controversy and legal battle will continue.
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Effects on the Manager and National Team
Rubiales’s and the Spanish national team’s consequences from the incident were extensive. When changes were made inside the football federation, most of the World Cup-winning team boycotted the national team. As a result, World Cup-winning manager Jorge Vilda was fired in September, and is currently the subject of an investigation as part of Rubiales’ criminal case. Re-assigned to the national team in October, Jenni Hermoso made her mark with an 89th-minute game-winning goal against Italy. She claimed that the post-match kiss had damaged her reputation.
As a reminder of how important manners and respect are in the world of sports, the contentious post-match kiss between Luis Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso is making headlines. The continuous backlash has already had a significant impact on the national team and its administration, even though Rubiales is unflinching and plans to challenge the FIFA punishment. The injustice of this case emphasises how important it is for football officials to protect the integrity of all players and the fair play standards.
