Luis Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) following the Spanish Football Federation president’s conduct at last week’s women’s World Cup final.
Rubiales has refused to resign from his post despite a major uproar caused by him kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips while she collected her medal after Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sydney last weekend.
FIFA have also ordered Rubiales and the Spanish FA not to contact the World Cup winner or anyone close to her. Hermoso has accused the federation of a “manipulative, hostile and controlling culture”.
Rubiales is under investigation by FIFA but UEFA – of which he is a €250,000-a-year vice-president – has yet to comment.
Hermoso stressed on Friday she did not consent to the kiss but her country’s football federation (RFEF) announced an intention to take legal action over the comments made by the forward over Rubiales.
Rubiales was expected to stand down on Friday over the kiss scandal but instead claimed to be the victim of a witch-hunt by “false feminists” in an extraordinary speech in front of the general assembly of the Spanish football federation.
That sparked an outcry from Hermoso and her team-mates who vowed not to play for Spain again – days after winning the World Cup for the first time.
In a statement on Friday night, the 33-year-old forward said “in no moment” did she consent to the kiss.
Rubiales used his federation to accuse Hermoso of lying about him forcibly kissing her in the early hours of Saturday morning.
However, Hermoso was quoted in a statement issued by Futpro, the players’ union representing her, as stating: “In no case did I seek to raise the president.”
England Women released a statement via captain Leah Williamson in support of Hermoso and the Spanish team that defeated them 1-0 in the World Cup final.
