FIFA reveals details of the Spanish Federation President’s punishment for a kiss in the Women’s World Cup – Youm7

Written by: Hani Abdel Nabi

Wednesday, December 6, 2023 08:17 PM

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee publishedVivaToday, Wednesday, it published its report in which it explained the reasons for suspending Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Federation, from all football-related activities at the national and international levels for three years, and stressed that “it would have been tempting to impose more stringent sanctions.”“ Because of a kiss to the Hermoso player.

The Disciplinary Committee published a statement in which it revealed all the circumstances of the investigations that took place with the President of the Spanish Federation after the incident of the last Women’s World Cup final.

The text of the disciplinary committee’s statement was as follows:

Initially, Rubiales was provisionally suspended for 90 days, and on October 30 he received notification of the disciplinary committee’s decision to punish him for three years..

Referring to the non-consensual kiss with Jennifer Hermoso after the World Cup final, FIFA points out that “the accused did not apologize to the player, neither publicly nor at least secretly.” And he “insisted on denying it (publicly and in the context of this procedure), confirming (against the player’s categorical statement) that the kiss was consensual.”

He adds that Rubiales “publicly insulted everyone who saw this incident differently,” said that it was “a kiss between two friends celebrating something,” and described them as “stupid and stupid.”“.

It also confirms that “the accused used her position as President of the Spanish Football Federation in an aggressive and completely inappropriate manner to publish, on behalf of the Spanish Football Federation, statements using quotes from the player that were not written or authorized, and issued an official statement.” A statement (later deleted) threatening the player (among others) with legal action“.

Moreover, the Commission noted that Rubiales used the General Assembly of the Spanish Football Federation “as a forum to defend himself and distort the truth of the kiss to his advantage.”“.

“The defendant and his entourage pressured and (emotionally) forced the player on numerous occasions to make her speak and take a position in their favour,” and, furthermore, “he was the subject of criminal proceedings in Spain as a result of the kiss.”

Likewise, the committee stresses that it “cannot ignore the impact of the defendants’ actions on the player’s mental health and career, as the latter stressed that it continues to feel ‘genuinely humiliated by everything that happened and by media exposure and public scrutiny.’ What she and her family were exposed to.”

The commission states that Hermoso “was in contact with psychologists at the Pachuca club, as well as with a psychiatrist he trusted.”“.

The Commission then asserts that “given that the events occurred in the context of the final match of the most prestigious women’s competition, the behavior described above by the Respondent has unfortunately received significant international media coverage.”“.

“In fact, instead of focusing on the international success of the World Cup or the first title of the Spanish team in the competition in question, the focus of attention was on the actions of the defendant.“.

He adds that all this stimulated “a series of incidents showing behavior that clearly contradicts every one of the values ​​​​that FIFA stands for and which football should include. With this behavior, the defendant unfortunately ruined the World Cup.” An experience for many, starting with the player and her teammates who have just become world champions.

He added: “The Commission is therefore fully convinced that the Respondent, through his conduct, has brought the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute throughout the world. As such, the sanctions imposed on him reflect all of the (aggravating) circumstances mentioned above.”“.

“In light of the above and after carefully considering all the evidence available to it, the Committee decided that a ban from participating in any football-related activity was the most appropriate and proportionate measure to punish the Defendant in light of the offenses. committed”.

In particular, “taking into account the undeniable media impact of the defendant’s conduct and its ramifications on the reputation of football and FIFA, but also, more importantly, on the reputation of the player.”“.

Given the player’s mental state, the committee considers that “a three-year prison sentence was justified in the current circumstances.”“.

The committee also reveals that it “would have been inclined to impose more stringent sanctions given the seriousness and seriousness of the incidents in question, as well as the profoundly negative impact that these measures had on the image of FIFA, women’s football and women’s sport, and more generally.”“.

It also understands that, even with strong doubts, the Disciplinary Committee “was convinced that the imposition of the aforementioned measure (three years) would have the necessary deterrent effect on the defendant, taking into account his conduct, as well as the category of competition in the tournament.” There have been violations and significant repercussions“.

He stressed that “in fact, the committee hoped that the aforementioned punishment, as mentioned above, would have the necessary deterrent effect on the defendant to prevent similar behavior from occurring in the future.”