FIFA Hands Ex-Spain Soccer Boss Three-Year Ban for World Cup Kiss

Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been banned from all soccer-related activities for three years because of his actions after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, FIFA announced Monday. 

FIFA had originally suspended Rubiales for 90 days for kissing forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips, grabbing his crotch, and throwing another player over his shoulder after Spain's 1-0 win over England in Sydney on Aug. 20. His actions led to several investigations into his conduct and he eventually stepped down from his position on Sept. 10 after initially refusing to do so. Hermoso has since filed a criminal complaint against him. 

“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, having found that he acted in breach of article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” FIFA said in a statement on Monday, per ESPN. “This case relates to the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on 20 August 2023, for which Mr Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for an initial period of 90 days.”

Rubiales, Hermoso, her teammates and RFEF officials have all appeared in court in Madrid to testify in the investigation. Hermoso has maintained that the kiss was not consensual and said she felt “disrespected” and “as an employee of the federation, no one protected me.”