Luis Rubiales has received the final verdict for his controversy with Jennifer Hermoso that occurred during the presentation ceremony of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The former President of the Spanish Soccer Federation was the subject of a FIFA disciplinary committee.
The disciplinary committee has announced that Rubiales has been banned from all soccer-related activities for three years. Following the controversy, Rubiales was forced to resign from his post in the RFEF after weeks of pressure from various stakeholders.
I think he lost his head a bit in the excitement of the moment
— Hesh (@HeshComps) October 30, 2023
FIFA announced the decision of the disciplinary committee by stating that Rubiales was found guilty of breaching Article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The governing body also stated that Rubiales has 10 days to request a motivated decision. It is to be noted that the said decision is subject to a possible appeal before the FIFA appeals committee.
The decision has brought polarizing reactions from fans around the world. The majority of the fans are in favor of the decision, while others have argued that the controversy was blown out of proportion.
That is so gross. He deserves it.
— BullsKickAss (@Bullskickass) October 30, 2023
Comments like “Not sure i’d call it a scandal but yeah,” “I think he lost his head a bit in the excitement of the moment,” “Hell nah man, bro thought he’s Johnny sins,” “That is so gross. He deserves it” and “Everyone should always act properly, no matter your level in life,” echoed the sentiments from the fans.
Rubiales has been a controversial figure throughout his career. The recent controversy was the one that brought the previous controversies back into the spotlight, adding more pressure within the Spanish federation. Apart from Rubiales, Spanish players within the women’s team have raised voices about a culture within the federation that is unprofessional and incompetent.
Spanish High Court is examining the case of Luis Rubiales on the grounds of s*xual assault
The nightmare for Rubiales is far from over, as a Spanish high court is still in the process of examining the incident on the grounds of s*xual assault. Back in September 2023, a prosecutor filed a complaint in the Spanish High Court with charges related to s*xual assault as well as coercion.
Jenni Hermoso had already filed a criminal complaint against Rubiales at the time, and this new complaint argued to put the former Spanish chief under investigation for the said charges. Later that month, the high court imposed a restraining order on Rubiales in order to prevent him from approaching Hermoso.
Spain’s High Court has imposed a restraining order to prevent former football federation chief Luis Rubiales from coming within 200 metres of Jenni Hermoso. pic.twitter.com/8GUAxIl7Rm
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 15, 2023
For Rubiales, all the avenues have been closing in on him for maximum punishment for his actions in the presentation ceremony. The High Court has yet to make a decision on the formal complaint by the said prosecutor. It has been reported that the sentences for these charges range from a fine to a prison term between one and four years.
Spanish law is complicated when it comes to jail time for first-time offenders, as evident in the tax evasion cases of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. That being said, if the recent few months can be taken as a sign of the times, then Rubiales can expect more trouble from different authorities in the coming months.