Fifa announced on Saturday August 26 the temporary suspension of the president of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales, accused of having forcibly kissed the player Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup final on Sunday.
5 mins
The press release fell at the beginning of the afternoon. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee announces that it is suspending Luis Rubiales from all football-related activity for an initial period of three months.
” We decided today to temporarily suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activity at national and international level », world football’s governing body said in a statement, adding that the suspension would last for at least 90 days, pending progress in the proceedings against the Spaniard.
Do not contact Jenni Hermoso
FIFA also asks the boss of the Spanish federation not to come into contact with Jenni Hermoso or any other player of the national team during this period of time. The sanction could be aggravated or on the contrary lifted at the end of the disciplinary procedure opened against Luis Rubiales. FIFA gives no timetable, reports our correspondent in Geneva, Jeremiah Lance.
But she indicated that the facts of which she is accused could constitute a violation of article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. It prohibits attacks on the dignity or integrity of a person. FIFA, which had modified its code of ethics a few months ago to make disciplinary procedures concerning cases of sexual assault or harassment imprescriptible.
Sociologist Béatrice Barbusse, author of the book Sexism in Sport
The International Federation specifies that it has informed the person concerned and UEFA, of which Luis Rubiales is vice-president. After issuing a belated apology, Luis Rubiales vindictively refused to resign Friday at a general assembly of the Spanish Federation (RFEF), aggravating the crisis that is shaking Spanish football.
Support from her teammates for the attacker
While the 23 world champion players showed their support for their captain by announcing that they would not play again for the national team under the current management, the RFEF counter-attacked by accusing Jenni Hermoso of having lied by claiming that Luis Rubiales had kissed her without her consent. In a statement released overnight from Friday to Saturday, the RFEF threatened the 33-year-old player, who said to herself “ victim of (sexual) assault », of legal proceedings for « defend honor of its president.
The affair, already dubbed the #MeToo of Spanish football, is causing a huge scandal in Spain, where the government, the main sponsors of the women’s national team, but also former internationals like goalkeeper Iker Casillas have expressed their indignation at the refusal of Luis Rubiales to resign and his speech castigating “false feminists” who would try to “assassinate” him on the social level.
“ The image of a macho Spain »
In an interview at El Paísthe Spanish Minister of Sports, Miquel Iceta, laments “ an episode that brought us the image of a macho Spain “, while the country is often presented as a leader in the fight against violence against women. He relies on the Administrative Court for Sport (TAD), able to judge whether the facts alleged against Luis Rubiales violate the laws of sport.
” If the TAD accepts the government’s complaint, we will immediately proceed with the suspension of the functions of president of the federation “, he warned. Especially since the High Council for Sports, the competent government body, has also requested the ” provisional suspension “from Rubiales to the TAD for infringement” very serious “. On the criminal level, the boss of Spanish football is the subject of four complaints of sexual assault received Friday by the Spanish prosecutor’s office, but none comes from the player for the moment.
Spain men’s coach Luis de la Fuente condemned in a statement to EFE the behavior “ inappropriate of its president, hoping that “ the competent bodies will take the necessary decisions as soon as possible. FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has brought on his side Jenni Hermoso. ” First of all, I give my unconditional support to Jenni and the players “said the Catalan coach even before the start of his press conference on Saturday. ” Secondly, I condemn the behavior of the president of the federation, which I find unacceptable “, he added about Luis Rubiales.
Six resignations in the staff of the Spanish women’s team
In addition, six members of the management of the Spanish women’s football team announced on Saturday that they had resigned, leaving coach Jorge Vilda without assistants. In a press release published on social networks, the signatories, including Vilda Montse Tomé’s deputy, affirm ” have made the decision to submit their resignation » to the RFEF and express « their firm and categorical condemnation of Luis Rubiales’ behavior towards Jennifer Hermoso “.
In addition to the stolen kiss, Luis Rubiales was filmed grabbing his genitals during the final won by Spain against England (1-0) Sunday in Australia. After four days of embarrassed silence, FIFA took up the case on Thursday by announcing the opening of disciplinary proceedings against the RFEF boss.
Read alsoWomen’s World Cup: Luis Rubiales apologizes after kissing Jenni Hermoso
(And with agencies)