Spanish football president, Luis Rubiales suspended over kiss

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World football’s governing body, FIFA, has taken action by issuing a provisional suspension of 90 days to embattled Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales, following the controversy sparked by the World Cup kissing incident.

Despite growing pressure from within the Spanish football community and the government, Rubiales, aged 46, has adamantly refused to step down. The incident in question involved Rubiales grabbing and kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the awards ceremony that followed Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in Sydney, Australia.

FIFA’s decision to suspend Rubiales involves prohibiting his participation in any football-related activities at both national and international levels. He has also been directed not to establish contact or make any attempt to contact Hermoso during the duration of his suspension. The suspension is set to be effective immediately and will last for an initial period of 90 days, pending the outcome of the ongoing disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales.

Hermoso, a 33-year-old forward, stated that she did not provide consent for the kiss at any point. In solidarity with her, Hermoso and her teammates have announced their decision not to participate in future matches for the Spanish national team, despite their recent World Cup victory.

While the country’s football federation has stood by its president, asserting that the kiss was consensual, tensions continue to escalate. The federation even issued a lengthy statement featuring images aimed at substantiating Rubiales’ claim. The statement also indicated the federation’s intent to potentially pursue legal action to counter what it perceives as falsehoods surrounding the incident.