Fifa on Thursday opened disciplinary proceedings against the president of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales, after the kiss he imposed on player Jenni Hermoso during Spain’s victory in the World Cup final on Sunday.
“These facts could constitute a violation of paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 13 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code”, specifies the world body, which has remained silent until now while criticism and calls for the resignation multiplied against Rubiales, in the Spanish political world as more broadly in that of football.
Dedicated to “discrimination”, the text targeted by Fifa punishes in particular the fact of “undermining the dignity or integrity” of a person “because of their sex” by a suspension “running over at least ten matches , or any other appropriate disciplinary measure”.
Whatever the disciplinary commission of the organization based in Zurich decides, it will therefore not decide on the retention in office of Luis Rubiales, who will be on the menu for an extraordinary general meeting of the Spanish federation (RFEF) on Friday.
“Fifa reiterates its absolute commitment to respect for the integrity of all, and therefore strongly condemns any behavior that goes against this value,” added the press release from the body, pressed to open an investigation on Wednesday. evening by the players’ union FIFPro.
On the images shot on the podium of the Sydney stadium on Sunday evening, just after the coronation of Spain against England, we see Luis Rubiales taking the head of striker Jennifer Hermoso between his two hands, before surprise kiss on the mouth.