Luis Rubiales continues his descent into hell for his kiss with Jenni Hermoso during the celebration of the world title won by the women’s team in the last World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand. As expected, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to disqualify him for three years for behaving in a manner contrary to the principles of dignity and decorum enshrined in its regulations.
The expected and extensive ruling from the highest international organization, which consists of 35 pages, is devastating and means in practice that the former president of the Spanish Football Federation (FEF) cannot have any relationship during this period with any activity related to this sport. . Rubiales, who can file an appeal, will also not be able to organize any match, nor hold positions in sports clubs or associations.
In its reasoning, the FIFA disciplinary committee refers not only to Rubiales’ kiss to Jenni Hermoso, but also to the vulgar gesture of touching his genitals in the box of the Sydney stadium, at the moment in which he lifted Athenea del Castillo by on top of her shoulders holding her legs and kissing Olga Carmona.
In the investigation, the FIFA sanctioning body in the first instance has taken into account various evidence. Among them, the video in the locker room in which Jenni Hermoso said that she did not like the kiss or the interview at Cope in which Rubiales defended himself at first, as well as the FEF video in which the former president of the FEF stated that he should apologize as there was “no other alternative.”
FIFA bases its resolution on the application of article 13 of its disciplinary code, which leaves no room for doubt. «Any person who attacks the dignity or integrity of a country, a person or a group of people by using derogatory, discriminatory or humiliating words or actions (by any means) due to race, skin color, ethnic origin, national or social, gender, disability, sexual orientation, language, religion, political position, purchasing power, place of birth or for any other status or reason, will be punished with a suspension lasting at least ten games or a specified period, or with any other appropriate disciplinary measure,” reads this article.
Discredit
In its conclusions, the Disciplinary Committee assures that “today, Spain is an example of gender equality and its commitment to this fight, as demonstrated by its national women’s soccer team.” “This gesture is definitely tarnishing the image of Spain and the general understanding of Spanish culture,” she acknowledges.
Likewise, it considers that “the defendant, unfortunately, ruined the World Cup experience for many, starting with the player and her teammates who had just become world champions for the first time in their history. Therefore, the Committee is firmly convinced that Rubiales, with her behavior, discredited the sport of football and FIFA worldwide.
In relation to the controversial kiss on the lips of Jenni Hermoso, FIFA is much harsher: “In this regard, and as a preliminary observation, it is essential to emphasize that such a kiss, emanating from the president of a federation to a player of the opposite sex of the national team under his direction and responsibility, was totally unacceptable. This, regardless of whether it had been consented or not. In fact, representing an entire country, which had just won the most prestigious women’s tournament, and holding the highest position within the federation, its president is expected to conduct himself with the highest level of composure and discernment. In other words, she is expected to adopt an irreproachable attitude, far from that shown during the awards ceremony.
The voluntary statements of Mark Aspden and Chris Nikou, presidents of the federations of New Zealand and Australia, respectively, present at the final, are not a trivial matter. Both assured in a letter sent to FIFA that Rubiales “was aggressive regarding the position he should occupy at the medal ceremony”, which they considered “inappropriate and unnecessary.”
“Prepotent”
It so happens that both go into more detail about this moment, indicating that Rubiales and his team were “arrogant” in the locker room tunnel before the medal presentation, forming a line in front of the authorities who were supposed to hand out the medals, even going so far as to receive a wake-up call from FIFA staff, which separated them.
In the opinion of the Australian leader, Rubiales’ tone when responding “was unpleasant and unnecessarily aggressive.” Nikou also made reference to Rubiales’ behavior with the English players, specifically, “when he caressed Laura Coombs on the face, which seemed strange to me, and then apparently kissed Lucy Bronze hard on the face.”
They both even claim to have witnessed how he treated other players incorrectly, not just Jenni Hermoso, “by hugging them and forcibly kissing them on their cheeks, holding their heads and inappropriately touching parts of their bodies.” Both end up being in favor of a sanction considering that “she is fully aware of the responsibilities that come with her position and abuses them, seriously discrediting the game.”
It should be remembered that on August 26, FIFA had already decided to provisionally suspend Rubiales for 90 days from all activities related to football at the national and international level. Therefore, the former head of Spanish football will be able to deduct that sanction period from the final punishment. A minor consolation in any case for a leader who has fallen into disgrace.
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