Luis Rubiales has been banned from football for three years after he was seen kissing Spain’s Jenni Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup final.
The former president of the Spanish Football Association was provisionally suspended after Hermoso complained that she had felt “vulnerable and the victim of an aggression” following Rubiales’s unwanted embrace.
The incident took place at the trophy presentation following Spain’s 1-0 win over England in the World Cup final back in August, and Rubiales resigned as president last month.
Rubiales denied that the kiss was non-consensual and now has 10 days in which to appeal the decision by Fifa’s disciplinary committee.
Hermoso said at the time of the incident: “I feel the need to denounce what happened because I believe that no person, in any work, sports or social environment, should be a victim of this type of non-consensual behaviour.
“I felt vulnerable and the victim of an aggression, an impulsive, chauvinistic act, out of place and without any consent on my part. Simply put, I was not respected.”
The 10-week investigation centred around clause 13 of the Fifa disciplinary code, relating to “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play”, which includes the ability to sanction anyone who “behaves in a way that brings the sport of football and/or Fifa into disrepute” or “violates the basic rules of decent conduct”.
It is also believed to have taken into consideration Rubiales’s public comments in the aftermath and threats by the Spanish FA to take legal action against her.
The fallout from the incident made international headlines: Spain’s head coach Jorge Vilda was sacked after coming out in support of Rubiales, the former president’s mother went on hunger strike in protest against the “inhumane” treatment of her son and 15 members of the Spanish national team announced a boycott.
Hermoso herself was dropped from the squad, while those threatening to boycott were still called up.
“We have spent weeks, months, searching for protection from inside the [Spanish FA],” Hermoso said.
“The same people who ask us to trust them are those who today announced a squad with players who asked NOT to be called up.
“The players are certain that this is yet another strategy of division and manipulation to intimidate and threaten us with legal repercussions and economic sanctions.
“It is more irrefutable proof that shows even today that nothing has changed.”
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/7j53Rub
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