The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected an appeal from former Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales challenging a three-year ban imposed by FIFA for kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso following the 2023 Women’s World Cup final. The decision was made by a panel at the apex of sports justice just after Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault against Hermoso. The ruling also included a fine of over 10,000 euros and a restraining order preventing Rubiales from approaching Hermoso within 200 meters or communicating with her for a year.
FIFA had banned Rubiales in October 2023, preventing him from engaging in soccer activities until after the men’s 2026 World Cup. The Court of Arbitration for Sport clarified that Rubiales’ actions at the Women’s World Cup final were deemed serious violations of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The panel affirmed that the imposed sanction was justifiable and proportionate, with no grounds to consider it excessive.