FIFA Has Suspended Spain’s Football President After He Kissed A Woman Player On The Lips Without Consent
The Spanish Soccer Federation President Luis Rubiales has been suspended by FIFA as he appeared to kiss a Spanish soccer player without consent.
FIFA has suspended the Spanish Soccer Federation President Luis Rubiales as it investigates his behavior during the Women’s World Cup final, in which he appeared to kiss a Spanish soccer player without consent.
The incident occurred during the medal ceremony following the Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Sydney on Sunday Aug. 20.
In a video, Rubiales can be seen hugging soccer player, Jennifer Hermoso, before grabbing her head and kissing her on the mouth.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the president for 90 days on Saturday after it opened an investigation to address Rubiales inappropriate behavior during the event on August 24th.
The suspension comes just days after Rubiales refused to resign during a press conference, calling it “persecution”.
During the press conference on Friday, he apologized for his behavior in the box, where he grabbed his crotch in celebration, admitting it “a little unedifying gesture”.
He went on to explain the events that occurred between Hermoso and him, explaining that that the kiss had been “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consented”.
“We hugged each other and I told her, forget about the penalty, you have been fantastic and without you we would not have won this World Cup. She answered me, ‘You are a crack’ And I asked her: A little peck? And she told me okay,” he said.
Rubiales appeared to downplay the incident, saying, “Is it so serious that I need to leave having done the best management in the history of Spanish football?”
“I will not resign,” he said almost five times among cheers of a mainly male audience.
On Saturday, Hermoso issued a statement, saying that she had given no consent.
“I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part,” she wrote on her social media. “Simply put, I was not respected.
She called out the Spanish Football Federation for pressuring her on making statements that would “alleviate pressure” and “justify Mr. Luis Rubiales’ actions”.
In fact, in comments provided to AFP by the Spanish federation, Hermoso initially had describe it as gesture of “immense joy” from Rubiales.
Hermoso has refused to play for the national team while the current leaders remain, and a dozen other woman players have made similar declarations, according to the New York Times.
Spanish soccer teams have shown their support for Hermoso by displaying banners that read, “We Are All With Jenni”.
And women soccer associations, including Australia and UK, have issued statements of support.
