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Luis Rubiales, the president of Spain’s football federation (RFEF), plans to resign on Friday after the 46-year-old became the subject of Fifa disciplinary proceedings in relation to his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday.
Spanish radio station Cadena Ser reported on Thursday that Rubiales will lose his job after he faced heavy criticism for kissing Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation. He also grabbed his crotch in celebrating his country’s 1-0 victory over England while standing close to Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter, Sofia.
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Show“The Fifa disciplinary committee informed Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish FA, 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 on 20 August 2023,” football’s world governing body said on Thursday.
“The events may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code. The Fifa disciplinary committee will only provide further information on these disciplinary proceedings once it has issued a final decision on the matter.
“Fifa reiterates its unwavering commitment to respecting the integrity of all individuals and strongly condemns any behaviour to the contrary.”
The sections of the disciplinary code referenced in its statement cover “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play”. The code cites examples of behaviour that 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”.
Regional leaders of the RFEF held a crisis meeting in Madrid to discuss Rubiales’s future and options for a potential successor. The favourites to succeed Rubiales are said to be Pedro Rocha, head of the Extremadura Football Federation, and Pablo Lozano, head of the Andalusia Federation.
Rubiales issued an apology via video on Monday for kissing Hermoso, something Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, described as “insufficient”. The Spanish FA has also called an extraordinary general assembly for Friday in response to the matter, while confirming it has opened internal proceedings.
Fifpro, the world players’ union, had called on Fifa on Wednesday to open proceedings against Rubiales. On the same evening as Fifpro’s statement, the Futpro union in Spain, which Hermoso has said is representing her interests in this case, expressed its “firm and resounding condemnation” for behaviour “which violates the dignity of women”.
“From our association we ask the Spanish FA to implement the necessary protocols and ensure the rights of our players and adopt exemplary measures,” Futpro said. “It is essential that our team, the current world champions, are always represented by figures who project values of equality and respect in all areas.”
Rubiales is a Uefa vice-president and a member of its ruling executive committee. European football’s governing body has not commented on the opening of proceedings against the 46-year-old, but if the Spanish federation was to dismiss Rubiales it could ask Uefa for the right to nominate a replacement. If Fifa was to suspend him, Rubiales’ seat on the ExCo would remain vacant until the next Uefa Congress, when a replacement would be elected.
The Fifa proceedings could also hamper Spain’s bid to co-host the 2030 men’s World Cup finals, which Rubiales is helping to lead. Spain are bidding alongside Portugal, Ukraine and Morocco for the centenary finals, with a decision on who will host due to be taken at an extraordinary Fifa Congress in the final quarter of next year.
The Women In Football group welcomed Fifa’s move and said: “It is clear from the public response that people expect action to be taken about Rubiales’ behaviour, which in most workplaces would lead to disciplinary proceedings at the very least.
“Given his earlier comment regarding those who called out that behaviour, when he described them as ‘idiots and stupid people’, Rubiales’ apology is not enough.
“The Women In Football survey in 2023 found that 18% of women in football have suffered sexual harassment at work. Unwelcome physical contact is never acceptable. It’s on men and their employers to address this – otherwise the problem will only continue to get worse.”
