FIFA Provisionally Suspends RFEF President Rubiales, Spanish Court Deems Kiss as “Not Serious”

The Federation Internationale De Football Association (FIFA) Disciplinary Committee provisionally suspended the Royal Spanish Football Federation president, Luis Rubiales, for kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s triumph at the Women’s World Cup. The disciplinary proceedings instituted against him on August 24 are underway.

The suspension is operative w.e.f. August 26, 2023, pertains to all national and international football-related activities. Further, he and RFEF have been restrained from contacting the player or her close environment.

On September 1, 2023, a Spanish Court agreed to open a case against Mr. Rubiales with respect to the said World Cup final incident. However, the Court specified that it deemed the potential offence as “serious” and not” very serious”.