On Saturday, FIFA provisionally suspended Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales from all domestic and international activities for at least 90 days. Rubiales was seen on international television kissing Spanish midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s victory in the World Cup final on Aug. 20. Rubiales initially apologized for the kiss before turning defiant.
FIFA Disciplinary Committee chairman Jorge Ivan Palacio also barred Rubiales and the Spanish Football Federation, known as RFEF, from contacting Hermoso directly or through intermediaries. FIFA’s press release cited a desire to “preserve … the fundamental rights of the national soccer team player Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and the good order of the disciplinary proceedings” as reasons for this ban.
Further reading from The Equalizer on the turmoil Spain has faced over the past several months: