Former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales’ attempt to overturn a three-year FIFA ban has been rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Rubiales, who led the RFEF until October 2023, was handed the lengthy suspension following an incident in which he kissed Spain player Jenni Hermoso without her consent during the medal presentation of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The appeal, dismissed by CAS on Friday, argued against FIFA’s ruling, but the sports court confirmed that the “sanction imposed is reasonable and proportional”.
The FIFA appeals committee had previously supported the initial suspension in January 2024, concluding that Rubiales’ actions violated the FIFA Disciplinary Code’s principles.
Adding to Rubiales’ legal troubles, Spain’s High Court found him guilty of sexual assault on Thursday, fining him €10,800 (£8,942).
The court also imposed a restraining order, prohibiting Rubiales from being within 200 metres of Hermoso or contacting her for a year.
However, he was acquitted of coercion charges, which accused him of pressuring Hermoso to declare the kiss as consensual.
Rubiales, 47, resigned from his RFEF role shortly after the incident but has consistently claimed that the kiss was consensual.
