Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association, has been banned for three years from all football-related activities, FIFA announced today.
Rubiales breached article 13 of FIFA’s disciplinary code by kissing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation after she helped her country win the Women’s World Cup in Australia on August 20.
After much pressure, Rubiales resigned from his position with the Spanish FA in September.
The fall-out from the kiss has been far-reaching with the National Court in Madrid still considering a criminal complaint of sexual assault and coercion against Rubiales. He has also had a restraining order placed on him and ordered not to go within 200 metres of the player.
Rubiales denies any wrongdoing and insists the kiss was consensual.
World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda was sacked in September and replaced by Montse Tome.
Tome left Hermoso out of her first squad to “protect her” but included her for the Nations League clash with Italy last week and was rewarded as the 33-year-old made a spectacular return by grabbing the only goal of the game in the 89th minute.
