Luis Rubiales’ Appeal Against FIFA’s Three-Year Ban Rejected

The highest authority in international sport has rejected an appeal from former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales (47) after he received a ban from all football-related activities for kissing player Jenni Hermoso (34) without her consent during the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

In October 2023, FIFA imposed a three-year ban on Rubiales, which was subsequently upheld by an appeals committee in January this year. The 47-year-old had the option to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

However, the CAS panel concluded that Rubiales’ actions during the trophy presentation “constituted numerous and serious breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” asserting that there was no justification to view the sanction as excessive.

“The appeal sought to nullify the contested decision, or alternatively, to partially overturn it and modify the sanction, or further still, to implement any other disciplinary measures,” CAS confirmed in a statement.

“Mr Rubiales’ appeal has been rejected and the initial decision remains intact.”

Additionally, on Thursday, Spain’s High Court found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso without her consent, fining him over 10,000 euros ($10,454).

The court ruling also imposed a prohibition on Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), from approaching Hermoso within a 200-metre radius.