At the end of October, the international football association Fifa announced that Luis Rubiales will be suspended for three years from all football activities.
Spain won a historic first World Cup gold on the women’s side this summer after defeating England in the final 1-0. But the aftermath was about anything but the sporting success.
At the medal ceremony, Luis Rubiales kissed player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth. According to Rubiales, it was consensual, something Hermoso firmly denies.
In a report on what happened at the post-final medal ceremony by Fifa’s disciplinary committee, published on Wednesday, FA president Debbie Hewitt testified that Rubiales also behaved inappropriately towards English players.
Hewitt states that Rubiales “cupped his hands” around England’s Laura Coombs’ face and “patted her”. The FA chairman also testified that Rubiales “seemingly forcibly” kissed England defender Lucy Bronze “on the face”.
In the report, Debbie Hewitt also says that she was “very hurt and embarrassed” by the way Rubiales greeted the Spanish players, including patting them on the bottom.
In the report, Fifa’s disciplinary committee writes that during the World Cup final on August 20, Luis Rubiales behaved as if “he was above the law”.
“The committee cannot emphasize clearly enough – regardless of his emotional state during and after the match – that (Rubiale’s) conduct was inexcusable and unacceptable, especially given his high position within the football ecosystem at the time.”
2023-12-07 06:48:43
#accusations #Rubiales #Fifa #report
