FIFA has announced that it is suspending Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales over the Jenni Hermoso case. “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 today agreed to the provisional suspension of Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level. This suspension, which will be effective as of today, is for an initial period of ninety days, and pending the disciplinary proceedings opened by this Disciplinary Committee against Mr. Luis Rubiales on Thursday, August 24,” the statement reads.
The statement adds: “Likewise, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, in order to preserve, among other factors, the fundamental rights of the Spanish 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 team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso or her immediate family and friends. Likewise, the RFEF and its officials or employees, directly or through third parties, are ordered to refrain from contacting the professional player of the Spanish national team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso or her close associates”.
In a speech on Friday, Rubiales said that he would not resign as head of the Spanish Football Federation despite pressure to step down after kissing Hermoso after Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup Down Under.
Hermoso, 33, said “in no moment” did she consent to the kiss. She and her team-mates have vowed not to play for Spain again – just days after winning the World Cup for the first time.
Kieran Quaile | GSFN
