FIFA have started proceedings against Luis Rubiales for kissing Jenni Hermoso on stage during 2023 FIFA World Cup medals presentation.
Luis Rubiales suffered heavy backlash after a grim footage of him kissing Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso surfaced online.
Jenni Hermoso joined her teammates to the stage to greet Spain dignitaries, who celebrated the players after the 1-0 Final win over England.
While celebrating the players, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso on the head and planted a strong kiss on her lips, sparking outrage with many calling on him to resign for such horrendous blunder.
Hermoso admitted she was uncomfortable with the kiss when asked about the incident after the World Cup celebrations.
Rubiales has apologized saying he “surely made a mistake” but in “a moment of maximum effusiveness”
FIFA Begin proceedings Against Luis Rubiales
World football governing body, FIFA, have started investigations into Luis Rubiales’ indecent gesture against Hermoso.
FIFA statement confirming the beginning of investigations says Rubiales’ indecent gesture ‘may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code’, which frowns at all forms of ‘offensive behavior that may violate fair play rules.
According to reports, Luis Rubiales may face a long ban and hefty fine if found guilty.
Luis Rubiales
Luis Rubiales, 46, is the president of Spain Football Federation – Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The Las Palmas-born football executive is a former professional football player. He played as a defender for various Spanish football clubs before calling time on his career in 2009.
Rubiales did not make any appearance for Spain senior national team and laid hands on only one trophy (Segunda Division) throughout his career in 2004 with Levante.
In 2018, he ran for the office of Spanish Football Federation President and won. He has been incharge of the apex football governing body in Spain for five years, overseeing the country’s Nations League and recently the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup victories.
Jenni Hermoso
Jennifer Hermoso Fuente, 33, is a Spanish professional female footballer, who plays as a midfielder for Spain national team and Mexican club CF Pachuca.
Known for her unrivaled clinical finishing skills on the attack, Hermoso started her football career with Atletico Madrid youth in 2002. She spent three years at Atletico Madrid academy before graduating to first team in 2005.
Hermoso made over 89 senior professional appearances for Atletico Madrid, scoring over 19 goals in her six years stint with the club. She joined Rayo Vallecano in 2010 and made 72 appearances for the club, scoring 42 goals.
After a three-year stint at Rayo Vallecano, Hermoso joined Tyreso FF in Stockholm in 2013, and made 20 appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals. Hermoso’s club career peaked in 2013 when she returned to Spain to play for Barcelona women. She scored 77 goals for Barcelona in 90 appearances and she is the club’s all-time highest goal-scorer.
After her spell at Barcelona, Hermoso moved to France, signing for PSG women. She made 19 league appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals.
She returned to Spain after one season, returning to her childhood club Atletico Madrid.
Hermoso spent a season at Atletico Madrid on her return, making 28 league appearances, and scoring 24 goals. After a season with the club, she also went for a second spell with Barcelona, spending three seasons with the club and adding another 70 league goals in 68 appearances to his previous 77-goal tally.
She left Barcelona in 2022, and is now plying her trade with Mexican club Pachuca, where she has made 32 appearances, scoring 23 goals.
Hermoso is still active with Spain Women national team and has won 101 caps with the team, scoring 51 goals since making her debut in 2012.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy is her first medal with the team.
Hermoso has seven Spanish Primeira Division – one with Rayo Vallecano, five with Barcelona, and one with Atletico Madrid.
She has also won the UEFA Women’s Champions League, four Copa de la Reina de Futbol and two Supercopa Femenina.
