Former Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales has been banned from international soccer for three years for his actions at the Women’s World Cup in August, FIFA announced Monday.
Rubiales, 46, is barred from participating in “all football-related activities at national and international levels” during that time, which includes the 2026 Men’s World Cup in North America.
“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 international governing body said in a statement.
Rubiales obstinately refused to admit he did anything wrong in the weeks following the World Cup, and FIFA rules allow him to appeal the decision. He did not respond publicly on Monday.
FIFA had provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days while the organization investigated his actions on Aug. 20 following Spain’s 1-0 defeat of England in the World Cup final.
The probe centered on three incidents: Rubiales’ forced kiss of star Spanish player Jenni Hermoso, his crotch grab in front of Queen Letizia of Spain and 16-year-old Princess Sofía, and his carrying of Spanish player Athenea del Castillo over his shoulder during the celebration.
FIFA said Rubiales violated article 13 of its disciplinary code, which includes penalties for wide-ranging offenses such as “violating the basic rules of decent conduct” and “behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute.”
Following three weeks of intense criticism, marked by a defiant hunger strike by his mother and a fiery “I’m not going anywhere” speech, Rubiales was forced to step down as president of the Spanish soccer federation on Sept. 10.
