Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales was banned by Fifa from the sport for three years for misconduct at the Women's World Cup final in Australia where he kissed a player on the lips at the trophy ceremony.
World football's governing body did not publish details of the verdict reached by its disciplinary committee judges, who had investigated charges relating to "basic rules of decent conduct" and behavior that "brings the sport of football and/or Fifa into disrepute."
Rubiales also is under criminal investigation in Spain for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips after the team's 1-0 victory over England on August 20 in Sydney. He denied wrongdoing to a judge in Madrid who imposed a restraining order for Rubiales not to contact Hermoso.
At the final whistle in Sydney, Rubiales had grabbed his crotch as a victory gesture in the exclusive section of seats with Queen Letizia of Spain and 16-year-old Princess Sofia standing nearby.
He was removed from office by Fifa judges during their investigation, and they also cited a third incident - "carrying the Spanish player Athenea del Castillo over his shoulder during the post-match celebrations" - to explain why he was provisionally suspended.
The risk of witness tampering by Rubiales and his allies also was cited to justify the interim ban that is now confirmed to extend beyond the next men's World Cup in 2026.
Rubiales resigned from his jobs in football in September after three weeks of defiance.
Luis Rubiales
