World football’s governing body FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Association’s president after he kissed a player on the lips at the Women’s World Cup final.
Luis Rubiales faced a backlash for his behaviour towards Spain’s captain Jennifer Hermoso during the medal ceremony after their win against England in the final.
She said she “did not enjoy” it.
Hermoso and the world players’ union FIFPRO later called for action to be taken against Mr Rubiales.
Spain’s prime minister and second deputy prime minister are among those who have criticised the president of Spanish football.
The 45-year-old had also grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture after the match, seemingly oblivious to Spain’s 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia stood close by.
FIFA said the events may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
The sections cover “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play”.
The code cites examples of behaviour which could lead to disciplinary measures being taken, including “insulting a natural or legal person in any way, especially by using offensive gestures, signs or language” and “behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute”.
FIFA said in a statement issued on Thursday afternoon: “The FIFA disciplinary committee informed Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Association, today that it is opening disciplinary proceedings against him based on the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup(TM) on August 20, 2023.”
The world football governing body’s disciplinary committee said it will only provide further information on these proceedings once it has issued a final decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Spanish FA called a general assembly for Friday in response to the matter, while confirming it has opened internal proceedings.
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Hermoso, a 33-year-old attacking midfielder, said in a joint statement on Wednesday released by her union and her agency: “My union FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and being the interlocutors on this matter.
“We are working to ensure that acts such as those we have seen never go unpunished, that they are sanctioned and that the exemplary measures are adopted to protect women footballers from actions that we believe are unacceptable.”
FUTPRO later expressed its “firm and resounding condemnation” for behaviour “which violates the dignity of women”.
Mr Rubiales, who initially called his critics “idiots”, apologised after the kiss and said he had “surely made a mistake” while in a “moment of maximum effusiveness”.
In a video released on Monday, Mr Rubiales had said: “We saw (the kiss) as something normal, natural and not in any way in bad faith. But outside it seems that a commotion has been created.
“When you are president of an institution as important as the federation, you have to be more careful.”
