GENEVA (Reuters) – FIFA launched disciplinary proceedings on Thursday against a Spanish football official who kissed a player on the lips while celebrating the team’s victory in the Women’s World Cup final.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will investigate whether Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation, breached the federation’s rules regarding “fundamental rules of decency” and “behaved in a manner that brings football and/or FIFA into disrepute”.
The Spanish Football Federation has not commented on reports in Spanish media that Rubiales will step down on Friday after five years as federation president.
Rubiales kissed his player Jenny Hermoso on the lips during the trophy and medal ceremony on Sunday after Spain beat England 1-0 in Sydney, Australia.
Minutes earlier, Rubiales clutched his privates in a triumphant gesture in the special seating section where Spain’s Queen Letizia and 16-year-old Princess Sofia sat together.
Hermoso said she doesn’t like kissing, and the national team of players representing her – led by Rubiales, 46 – on Wednesday urged her not to vilify her behavior.
FIFA responded on Thursday.
“FIFA reiterates its unwavering commitment to respect the integrity of all individuals and strongly condemns any behavior contrary to this,” FIFA said, without mentioning the actions of Rubiales, who remains under investigation.
“The gesture of putting the testicles on the podium is a gesture that no one can defend,” Victor Francos, Spain’s minister of state for sports, said on Wednesday.
FIFA did not provide a schedule for the referees. The Authority’s disciplinary judges can impose penalties on a person ranging from warnings to fines and suspensions from the game.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee is chaired by Colombian lawyer Jorge Palacio, a former labor court judge and member of the state’s constitutional court.
Three members out of 16 committee members will hear this case. Three of the 16 women are from England, Mexico and Thailand.
Rubiales is a UEFA vice-president, a position that pays her €250,000 ($270,000) a year plus expenses, and was UEFA’s most senior representative in women’s football’s biggest sport.
UEFA president Aleksandar Ceferin has yet to comment on the behavior of Rubiales, who will host the next annual UEFA Congress in Madrid in February.
The Spanish Football Federation, which Rubiales has led for five years, is holding an emergency meeting in Madrid on Friday, as the agenda allows questions about the dispute.
It is unclear whether the meeting will support Rubiales or respond to widespread pressure from the Spanish government and football authorities to deport him. Spanish media reports late Thursday said Rubiales was expected to step down during the meeting.
“It’s a very delicate issue,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Thursday. “As a citizen and like other people, I did not like this behavior at all. That will decide.”
Rubiales, who led the Spanish national team for eight years before assuming the federation’s presidency in 2018, is currently leading a UEFA-backed bid to host the 2030 men’s World Cup. Morocco and possibly Ukraine as well.
Francos said Rubiales had tarnished the country’s image by trying to garner support for hosting the World Cup.
FIFA postponed the tournament’s launch until 2030 last June, but intends to make a decision at the end of next year.
A Spanish-led bid is currently favored over the South American Quadrilateral scheme, which includes 1930 World Cup hosts Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Despite speculation about Saudi Arabia’s possible candidacy, the 2034 edition is a more likely target for the oil-rich state.
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AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup
