The fallout from Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales’ actions following the World Cup final between Spain and England continues as FIFA has finally decided to step in.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days pending disciplinary proceedings.
“The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio, in use of the powers granted by article 51 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), has decided to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level,” the statement read. “This suspension, which will be effective as of today, is for an initial period of 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings opened against Mr. Luis Rubiales on Thursday, August 24.”
This also comes at the heels of Rubiales appearing at an assembly where he doubled down in defending his actions and emphatically stating he wasn’t going to resign despite the calls to do so. The assemble was initially held because there were reports leading up claiming he was, indeed, going to resign.
In a shameful display, Rubiales tried to shift the blame onto Jennifer Hermoso and tried to paint himself as the victim. He went as far to say he was the victim of a “social assassination” and he shouldn’t have to resign because of a “consensual kiss.”
Furthermore, FIFA also prohibited Rubiales from directly contacting, or through third parties, Hermoso or her close environment.
“Likewise, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and in order to preserve, among other factors, the fundamental rights of the national soccer team player Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and the good order of the disciplinary proceedings before this disciplinary body, has issued two additional directives (article 7 FDC) by which he orders Mr. Luis 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.”
The directive also extends to officials and employees of the Spanish FA.
FIFA has provisionally suspended RFEF President Luis Rubiales for 90 days and ordered him, or any party associated to him, to not contact Jenni Hermoso or anyone close to her pic.twitter.com/YAY9611SFz
— AllForXI (@AllForXI) August 26, 2023
This scandal has captured the attention of everyone worldwide with a multitude of players and clubs coming out in support of Hermoso. Players from the national team have also decided to no longer play for Spain unless changes are made.
For their part, the RFEF continues to stand by Rubiales. They released a statement of their own and used photos to give their version of events. They also threatened, for lack of a better word, to suspend the players from playing for their club should they refuse a call-up.
Suffice to say that public opinion is not on the RFEF’s side. The same can be said about the facts as despite providing pictures to try to confirm Rubiales’ version of events, there is video that could easily rebuke them.