The Administrative Court of Sport of Spain opened a disciplinary procedure this Friday against the president of the Spanish Football Federation for serious infractions in the final of the women’s World Cup, when Luis Rubiales kissed the player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth.
The decision of the Administrative Court of Sport (TAD) follows a complaint from the Spanish Government, through the Higher Sports Council, which denounced the kiss of Luis Rubiales to the soccer player Jenni Hermoso and the behavior of the president of the federation in the stands from the Sydney stadium, when he touched his genitals to celebrate Spain’s victory in the World Cup final.
The TAD’s decision this Friday, cited by the Spanish media, translates into the partial acceptance of the complaint filed by the Spanish Government and thus begins a procedure to sanction Luis Rubiales for two breaches of decorum.
The Spanish government also wanted Rubiales’ behavior to be considered an abuse of authority by the TAD, which is not included in the court’s decision, thus preventing the Higher Sports Council from ordering the provisional suspension of Rubiales from the presidency of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. (RFEF).
The prosecution by the TAD of Rubiales for serious infractions could lead to the suspension of the president of the federation for a period of between one month and two years, according to Spanish media.
Luis Rubiales is already suspended by FIFA, provisionally, for 90 days, for events that occurred in Sydney, during the match and in the celebrations of the Spanish victory.
After learning of the TAD’s decision today, the Minister of Culture and Sports of Spain, Miquel Iceta, regretted that the court considered Rubiales’ behavior as serious offenses and not “very serious”, as the Government claimed.
Miquel Iceta stated, at a press conference in Barcelona, that the Higher Sports Council could not suspend Rubales, but will urge the TAD to adopt this measure until the disciplinary process that is now beginning is concluded.
The minister stressed that the Government continues to consider that “the actions of the president of the RFEF deserve to be described as very serious, abuse of authority and damage to the image of Spanish football in the context of the celebration of the magnificent victory” of the women’s team.
“When the eyes of the world were fixed on Spanish players, some events caused damage difficult to repair in our sport and in our image as a country,” he added, stating that the government is studying other possible legal measures against Rubiales.
After the events in Sydney, there was numerous criticism of Rubiales, with the player Jenni Hermoso stating that she had not consented to the kiss, contrary to what the RFEF president guarantees.
Rubiales said last week that he would not leave his position, which caused a new peak of response and extreme positions, with the players of the selection announcing that they are not available to return to represent Spain, while the current leaders of the RFEF remain in the positions.
On Saturday, FIFA announced Rubiales’ 90-day suspension from office, and 11 members of coach Jorge Vilda’s coaching staff submitted their resignations. For his part, the coach condemned the “inadequate behavior” of the president of the RFEF.
Source: TSF
