Official: FIFA provisionally suspends Luis Rubiales for 90 days

FIFA has provisionally suspended Luis Rubiales for 90 days, according to an official statement from the highest football organization on Saturday, August 25.

A day after Rubiales was confirmed in office and assured that he would not resign following the scandal sparked by the unauthorized kiss he gave Jenni Hermoso in the Women’s World Cup final, FIFA’s disciplinary committee has reported that they are provisionally the chairman of the RFEF of all football-related activities at the national and international level.

Full FIFA statement

“The President of the FIFA Disciplinary Commission, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), using the powers conferred by Article 51 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (CDF), today agreed to the provisional suspension of Luis Rubiales from all football related activities at a national and international level.

This suspension, which takes effect today, is for an initial period of ninety days, and as long as the disciplinary proceedings opened against Mr Luis Rubiales by this disciplinary committee on Thursday, August 24, have been completed.

Similarly, in order to protect, among other things, the fundamental rights of the player of the national football team Jennifer Hermoso and the good order of the disciplinary proceedings before this disciplinary body, the President of the FIFA Disciplinary Commission has issued two additional guidelines (article 7 CDF) by which she instructs Luis Rubiales not to contact or attempt to contact Jennifer Hermoso or her close circle, through himself or third parties. Likewise, the RFEF and its officers or employees, directly or through third parties, are ordered to refrain from contact with the player or its immediate environment.

The decision of the President of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has been notified today to Luis Rubiales, the RFEF and UEFA for compliance. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will not provide any further information regarding this disciplinary procedure until a final decision has been made.

FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting the integrity of all people and therefore strongly condemns any conduct to the contrary.”

Pedro Rocha, provisional replacement for Rubiales in the RFEF

“The RFEF announces that it has received notice this morning from the FIFA Disciplinary Committee regarding the provisional suspension of Mr. President Luis Rubiales Béjar, while the disciplinary file is being processed.

In accordance with the provisions of the RFEF statutes, the vice president attached to the presidency, Pedro Rocha Junco, assumes the interim presidency during this period.

Luis Rubiales has stated that he will defend himself legally in the appropriate bodies, he fully trusts FIFA and reiterates that in this way he will have the opportunity to start his defense so that the truth prevails and his complete innocence is proven.”