FIFA banned former Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales for three years on Monday after his forced kiss on the lips of World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso rocked the football world.
The World Football Federation punished Rubiales for 90 days after his uninvited kiss during the medal presentation after Spain won the Women’s World Cup in Sydney on August 20.
Rubiales was found to have violated FIFA’s code of conduct and will now be barred from any football activities for three years.
Hermoso described the encounter as “an impulsive, macho act, out of place, and with no type of consent on my part,” which left her feeling “vulnerable and like a victim of an assault.”
Rubiales, who said the kiss was mutual, resigned as president of the Spanish Football Federation in September.
“The FIFA disciplinary committee has banned Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF), from all football-related activities at national and international levels for three years,” the Zurich-based organisation said in a statement.
FIFA said Rubiales had been notified of the decision on Monday and had 10 days to request a so-called motivated decision, which if requested, would be published on FIFA’s legal website.
“The decision remains subject to a possible appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee,” the statement said.
“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld.”
The kiss issue has had widespread consequences in Spain, prompting a reorganization of the women’s team’s management and rallies by feminist and student groups.
The RFEF initially issued a statement after Spain defeated England 1-0 in the World Cup final, stating Hermoso as saying the kiss was “a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.”
Rubiales apologized briefly but later toughened his stance in a forceful speech to the federation on August 25, forcing Hermoso to deliver her own statement denying the kiss was consensual and stating it had left her feeling “vulnerable” and like a “victim of an assault.”
A day later, the federation accused her of “lies” about the incident and threatened legal action.
The World Cup-winning coach, Jorge Vilda, who had received Rubiales’ full support when his authoritarian techniques were questioned last year, was ousted and replaced by a woman, Montse Tome.
According to reports in Spain, Vilda ordered that players’ shopping bags be checked and that the squad leave their bedroom doors open during team training camps to guarantee the players were still present in the evenings.
Despite the departure of Rubiales and Vilda, the players of Spain’s national women’s team threatened to strike because they were concerned that management techniques were not changing quickly enough.
Hermoso made his national team debut on Friday, scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Italy in the Nations League.
Afterwards she said: “I can tell you (I thought about) many things, but life sometimes gives you little gifts, and today I thought about a lot of people behind me this time.
“I am happy because, thanks to them, today I enjoyed football once again.”