In a landmark decision, the global governing body of soccer, FIFA, has handed down a three-year ban to Spanish soccer official Luis Rubiales following his inappropriate actions at the Women’s World Cup final trophy ceremony. The ban comes in light of Rubiales’ refusal to step down from his position as president of the Spanish soccer federation and the subsequent fallout from his conduct.
The Incident
On August 20th, during the Women’s World Cup final trophy ceremony in Australia, Luis Rubiales kissed star player Jenni Hermoso without her consent, leading to a players’ rebellion and calls for accountability.
This act not only overshadowed the women’s career-defining title win, but also sparked a criminal investigation by Spanish authorities. Spanish prosecutors have formally accused Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion, with Hermoso stating that Rubiales pressured her to speak out in his defense.
The Aftermath
Following the incident, a judge in Madrid imposed a restraining order, preventing Rubiales from contacting Hermoso. FIFA also launched an investigation to determine if Rubiales violated its basic rules of conduct and brought disrepute to the sport of soccer.
Additionally, during the same event, Rubiales exhibited other inappropriate behavior, including making an offensive gesture and carrying Spanish player Athenea del Castillo over his shoulder during post-match celebrations.
Additional Context
Rubiales’ actions come amidst a backdrop of allegations of sexual misconduct by male soccer presidents and coaches against female players on national teams, with two of the 32 World Cup teams, Haiti and Zambia, dealing with similar issues during the tournament.
Before the Women’s World Cup took place, Rubiales was already dealing with unsubstantiated sexual misconduct allegations tied to his management style. Furthermore, the Spanish players had expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership of their male coach, Jorge Vilda, who was supported by Rubiales despite 15 players requesting not to be called up again due to the emotional distress of playing for the team.
A Step Towards Accountability in Soccer
The three-year ban will prevent Rubiales from participating in any soccer-related activities until after the men’s 2026 World Cup, with the ban expiring before the next women’s tournament in 2027. While Rubiales has resigned from his positions in soccer, including his vice presidency of European soccer body UEFA, he still has the option to appeal the ban to FIFA and subsequently to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
This incident marks a significant step towards holding soccer officials accountable for their actions and underscores FIFA’s commitment to ensuring the integrity and dignity of all individuals involved in the sport.