Spanish football president Luis Rubiales suspended by FIFA disciplinary committee, women team's coaching staff resign
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Updated 26/08/2023 at 17:43 GMT
Spanish football president Luis Rubiales has been suspended from all football-related activity by the FIFA disciplinary committee as the fallout from his post-match kiss on the lips of World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso continues to unfold. The ban will run for an initial 90 days, while Rubiales is also suspended from contacting Hermoso. Rubiales declined to resign from his position on Friday.
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Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has been handed a provisional 90-day suspension from all football-related activities by the FIFA disciplinary committee as the fallout from his World Cup final incident continues to unfold.
In a further development, all coaching staff from the World Cup-winning side, except manager Jorge Vilda, have resigned as a result of the controversy.
Assistant managers Montse Tome, Javier Lerga and Eugenio Gonzalo Martin, as well as physio Blanca Romero Moraleda and goalkeeping coach Carlos Sanchez, have all left their positions, as have six coaches with youth sides.
On Saturday they released a statement, saying: "Those named below express their firm and resounding condemnation of the conduct shown by the RFEF president.
"He offered a story that does not reflect in any way what was felt by Jenni Hermoso, who has expressly stated that she felt she was the 'victim of aggression'.
"Given the unacceptable attitudes and statements made by the president, they have made the decision to relieve themselves of their duties."
Rubiales made global headlines when he kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips as the victorious Spanish players were being handed their winners' medals.
In the aftermath, FUTPRO, the union representing Hermoso called for action over the incident.
On Saturday afternoon, FIFA confirmed that the association's disciplinary committee had handed Rubiales a 90-day suspension pending the disciplinary proceedings opened on Thursday.
They wrote: "The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), in use of the powers granted by article 51 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), has decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level."
In addition to his ban, Rubiales is also required to refrain from contacting Hermoso or her close environment. Further, the Spanish FA as well as its employees and officials is also banned from contacting Hermoso while the investigation proceeds.
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Spanish FA president Rubiales apologises for kissing Hermoso
On Friday afternoon, Rubiales told an extraordinary general assembly of the Spanish Football Federation that he would not stand down despite the uproar.
A statement was released by the Spanish FA on Saturday afternoon stating that legal action would be taken over the accusations levelled at Rubiales.
The statement read: "The RFEF and Mr president will demonstrate each of the lies that are spread either by someone on behalf of the player or, if applicable, by the player herself. The RFEF and the President, given the seriousness of the content of the press release from the Futpro union, will initiate the corresponding legal actions."
That statement fell hot on the heels of the announcement by the members of the World Cup-winning Spanish team that they would refuse to play for their country again until Rubiales was removed.
Several past members of the Spanish men's national team also made statements in support of Hermoso or in criticism of Rubiales, including David De Gea, Iker Casillas and Hector Bellerin.
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