Luis Rubiales banned: Disgraced former Spanish FA president hit with three-year football suspension by FIFA following Jenni Hermoso World Cup final kiss scandal

Disgraced former RFEF boss Luis Rubiales has been banned from football for three years after kissing Spain's Jenni Hermoso without her consent.

FIFA's disciplinary committee has ruled that Rubiales, formerly the president of Spain's Football Association (RFEF) breached article 13 of the FIFA disciplinary code with his conduct after the Women's World Cup final, banning him from all football-related activity for three years.

The 46-year-old kissed Hermoso on the lips after she collected her winner's medal following Spain's victory over England in Sydney. She later confirmed that she had not consented to it, sparking a chain of events that included a mass walkout from Spanish players and backroom staff.

Rubiales consistently refused to accept wrongdoing, even when resigning his post as RFEF president, having repeatedly claimed it was a consensual kiss.

He was provisionally suspended for 90 days when FIFA quickly intervened in August, with the governing body now settling on a three-year ban that will prevent him from being involved in football until 2026. There is still, however, a right to appeal that could be taken.

FIFA's statement explained: «The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has banned Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF), from all football-related activities at national and international levels for three years, having found that he acted in breach of article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

»This case relates to the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ on 20 August 2023, for which Mr Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for an initial period of 90 days.

«Mr Rubiales has been notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today.