football
FIFA appeals committee confirms ban on Rubiales
Spain’s former football association president Luis Rubiales has failed in his appeal against the three-year ban. photo
© Alessandra Tarantino/AP/dpa
The kissing scandal surrounding Spain’s ex-association boss Rubiales continues to concern lawyers. He failed in his appeal to FIFA. Now Rubiales could appeal to the highest sports court.
Spain’s former football association president Luis Rubiales failed in his appeal against the three-year ban by the world association FIFA in the kissing scandal.
The FIFA appeals committee rejected the complaint, the association announced. In the past, it has only been rare for the Appeals Committee to revise a decision made by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. However, it is a necessary step; beforehand, Rubiales cannot challenge the ban before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
The Appeal Committee decided that Rubiales had violated the principles enshrined in Article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The official is accused of misconduct after the Women’s World Cup final on August 20, 2023, when he apparently kissed Spain’s star player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth against her will at the award ceremony.
Rubiales has also been formally charged at the State Court in Madrid for this incident. If the charges are admitted in court and Rubiales is convicted, experts say he would face several years in prison. Rubiales denies the allegations and maintains that Hermoso consented to the kiss.