Former Spanish Football Association President, Luis Rubiales, has been handed a three-year ban by FIFA following an incident at the Women’s World Cup final earlier this year. The disciplinary committee of FIFA, responsible for investigating charges relating to violations of “basic rules of decent conduct” and conduct that harms the image of football or FIFA, decided on this action, although the specific details were not publicly disclosed.
This decision comes in light of Rubiales facing a criminal investigation in Spain for kissing forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on August 20 in Sydney, Australia. A judge in Madrid issued a restraining order to prevent Rubiales from contacting Hermoso.
During the Women’s World Cup final, Rubiales made a provocative gesture by grabbing his crotch, an act witnessed by Queen Letizia of Spain and 16-year-old Princess Sofía. FIFA judges removed him from office during their investigation and cited a third incident where he carried Spanish player Athenea del Castillo over his shoulder during post-match celebrations, leading to his provisional suspension.
The interim ban was justified due to concerns of witness tampering by Rubiales and his associates and will extend beyond the next Men’s World Cup in 2026, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Rubiales, initially expected to announce his departure through a press conference, instead launched into a bizarre tirade and reaffirmed his intention to retain his post before eventually stepping down. FIFA’s recent decision means he won’t be allowed to engage in any football-related activities until at least 2026.
In a statement released on Monday, FIFA confirmed the punitive measure, stating, “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has imposed a three-year ban on Luis Rubiales, the former President of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF). This decision comes in response to his breach of Article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
This case centers around incidents that occurred during the FIFA Women’s World Cup final on August 20, 2023, which initially led to Rubiales’ 90-day provisional suspension. He has been notified of the decision and has ten days to request a detailed explanation, which would be published on legal.fifa.com if requested. The decision is subject to potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.
Rubiales also served as UEFA Vice-President before his resignation in September. This ban coincides with the return of Jenni Hermoso to the Spanish national team, ending her absence since the victory against England in the summer.
Rubiales resigned from all his soccer-related positions in September after three weeks of resistance, increasing pressure from the Spanish government and national team players. His resignation also entailed relinquishing his vice presidency at the European soccer body UEFA, which brought him an annual income of 250,000 euros ($454,000NZD). UEFA later acknowledged his service in a statement.