Luis Rubiales banned three years for World Cup kiss

The embattled former president of the Spanish Football Association has been barred “from all football-related activities” for three years after his unsolicited kiss on a member of Spain’s women’s national team at the World Cup in August, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee announced Monday.

Luis Rubiales, who faced international backlash for kissing Spain’s Jenni Hermoso after her country earned its first Women’s World Cup title with a victory over England, was “found that he acted in breach of article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” Monday’s statement read.

“This case relates to the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on 20 August 2023,” the statement ready.

Rubiales had already been suspended for 90 days by FIFA as it investigated his conduct.

He announced his resignation last month in an exclusive interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” stating he “cannot continue my work.”

Rubiales, 46, “has been notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision,” Monday’s statement read, and that “he has ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com.”

“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld,” the statement concluded.