Monsurat
FIFA suspended Luis Rubiales as president of Spain’s Football federation on Saturday for kissing Spanish Women’s World Cup player Jenni Hermoso on the lips and has barred him from contacting her again.
In a statement, world football’s governing body said “(We) decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level.”
The 46-year-old’s suspension will last 90 days, while they FIFA undertakes disciplinary proceedings. They added that both Rubiales and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) are prohibited from contacting Hermoso and those close to her.
Rubiales says the kiss was “mutual, euphoric and consensual” and refused to resign despite the pressure from Hermoso, her teammates and the Spanish government.
Meanwhile, Hermoso says she did not consent to the kiss. She said she felt “vulnerable and the victim of an assault.” In a statement released through her Futpro union she said “I want to clarify that at no time did I consent to the kiss that gave me and in no case did I seek to lift up the president.”
Hermoso, along with 80 other Spain players, and the entire World Cup winning squad, said they were striking until the leadership changed.
RFEF has backed the Rubiales and threatened legal action against Hermoso and the Spanish team. The federation said they would “demonstrate each of the lies that have been spread, whether in the name of the player, if that is the case, or by the player herself.”
“Rubiales has said he will defend himself before the pertinent agencies and fully confides in the work of FIFA, and reiterates that, in this way, he will have the opportunity to begin his defense so that the truth prevails and innocence is shown”, said a statement from the federation.
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