#FIFA; #LuisRubiales; #Suspension
International governing body of association football, FIFA said on Saturday it had suspended Spanish federation chief Luis Rubiales for three months from all football-related activities as it investigates his kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory.
FIFA said in a statement that the suspension action taken by disciplinary committee chief Jorge Ivan Palacio takes effect immediately from Saturday,
Rubiales has been defiant over the kiss arguing it was reportedly “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual.” but Hermoso, her teammates and the Spanish government have condemned this action as unwanted.
Hermoso reportedly said she did not consent to the kiss and felt “vulnerable and the victim of an aggression.”
Although the Spanish government cannot fire Rubiales, it has strongly denounced his actions and said on Friday that it would use a legal procedure before a sports tribunalit to get him suspended .
The Spain women’s team has also revolted.
On Friday evening, all 23 of the cup-winning squad including Hermoso, as well as 32 other squad members, said in a joint statement sent via their FUTPRO union that they would not play internationals while Rubiales remains head of the federation.
In the same statement, Hermoso wrote, “I want to clarify that, as was seen in the images, at no time did I consent to the kiss he gave me and, of course, in no case did I seek to lift the president.”
