FIFA suspends Spanish football chief over Hermoso kiss
FIFA on Saturday suspended Spanish federation chief, Luis Rubiales from all football related activities for three months for Jenni Hermoso’s ‘unwanted kiss’ after Spain won the Women’s World Cup.
Rubiales suspension from national and international activities takes immediate effect, FIFA said in a statement by its disciplinary committee chief Jorge Ivan Palacio.
FIFA opened disciplinary measures against Rubiales on Thursday, but he said he would defend himself to prove his “complete innocence”.
Rubiales, 46, has been defiant over the kiss, saying it was consensual.
Earlier on Saturday the Spanish federation he heads said it would stick by him.
A spokesperson for the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said: “We respect all the pronouncements of FIFA,” but added that it would show there had been lies told about what happened by Hermoso or people speaking for her.
The statement, issued on the RFEF website, said it would take appropriate legal action to defend Rubiales’ honour, but did not say what the action would be.
“Luis Rubiales has stated that he will legally defend himself in the competent bodies.”
