The penalty has been imposed. A heavy one. FIFA announced in a press release that it had suspended the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, for forcibly kissing Spanish player Jenni Hermoso during the presentation of the trophy at the end of the 2023 Women’s World Cup final. He has been suspended for three years from “all football-related activities at national and international level”. The Spanish manager was already under provisional suspension for 90 days. FIFA specifies that he has the right to “lodge an appeal with the appeals committee” of the body. Luis Rubiales has always maintained that the kiss was consensual, but was forced to resign as President of the Spanish Football Association. He has also been charged with sexual assault by his country’s courts, and banned from coming within 200 meters of Jenni Hermoso.
— Published 31 October 2023
