World Cup Kiss: FIFA Opens Investigation Against Spanish FA Boss, Rubiales

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has informed Luis Rubiales, President of the Spanish Football Association, today that it is opening disciplinary proceedings against him based on the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ on 20 August 2023.

The events may constitute violations of Article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will only provide further information on these disciplinary proceedings once it has issued a final decision on the matter.

FIFA says reiterates its unwavering commitment to respecting the integrity of all individuals and strongly condemns any behaviour to the contrary.

Rubiales was pictured grabbing Hermoso and kissing the striker on the lips during Spain’s celebrations after beating England 1-0 in the Women’s World Cup final a few days ago.

Rubiales’ actions have been widely condemned with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez describing the incident as ‘unacceptable’.

He has since apologised for his actions after Hermoso came out and said that she ‘didn’t like’ the kiss.

Meanwhile, United States winger, Megan Rapinoe has hit out at Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales for ‘physically assaulting’ Jenni Hermoso at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Rapinoe, who helped her country win back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019, has now offered her views on the development.

“It made me think about how much we are required to endure,” Rapinoe told American outlet The Atlantic.

“Think how much that Spanish team had to shoulder: Some of the players who stood up way back last year [to protest poor treatment by their coach and federation] still are not on the team.

“Maybe that was something that galvanized them, but you should not have to have that.

“There was another picture that signals such a deep level of misogyny and sexism in that federation and in that man [Rubiales] at the final whistle, just grabbing his crotch.

“What kind of upside-down world are we in? On the biggest stage, where you should be celebrating, Jenni [Hermoso] has to be physically assaulted by this guy.”

Jenni Hermoso and the world players’ union FIFPRO have also called for action to be taken against Rubiales.

The 33-year-old said in a joint statement on Wednesday released by her union and her agency: “My union FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and being the interlocutors on this matter.

“We are working to ensure that acts such as those we have seen never go unpunished, that they are sanctioned and that the exemplary measures are adopted to protect women footballers from actions that we believe are unacceptable.”

FIFPRO later came out in support of Hermoso and requested FIFA open an investigation into Rubiales.

“We reiterate that it was deeply lamentable that such a special moment for the players of the Spain national team taking place before a global television audience should be stained by the inappropriate conduct of an individual in a role carrying so much responsibility,” the union’s statement read.

“Uninitiated and uninvited physical approaches towards players are not appropriate or acceptable in any context, and especially when they are put in a position of vulnerability by a person who holds a position of power over them in their workplace.”

FUTPRO will meet next Monday with Spain’s second deputy leader Yolanda Diaz to ensure the actions of Rubiales are “duly sanctioned”.

The Spanish federation (RFEF) announced on Tuesday night it had called an extraordinary meeting of its general assembly for Friday, and that “internal proceedings” were open in relation to integrity issues arising from the trophy ceremony.

Spain’s women’s football league, Liga F, called for Rubiales to be dismissed and said it had lodged a complaint with the president of the National Sports Council (CSD) over his “very serious actions and behaviour”.

“For a boss to grab his employee by the head and kiss her on the mouth simply cannot be tolerated,” it said. “The subsequent justifications are, as the prime minister described it, ‘inadequate’.”