Proceedings opened but…
Judges prevent Rubiales from being suspended
09/01/2023, 8:38 p.m
Luis Rubiales cannot be suspended, this is blocked by the judges of the highest Spanish sports court. However, Rubiales is currently unable to serve as President of the Football Association because he has been suspended by FIFA.
In the Spanish scandal surrounding Luis Rubiales, the highest sports court Tad has blocked a suspension of the president of the football association RFEF. The judges had decided to open proceedings against the sports official only because of “serious” misconduct, the state TV broadcaster RTVE and other Spanish media reported.
A suspension by the sports authority CSD would only have been possible if the court had allowed the proceedings because of “very serious” misconduct. Should the Tad find Rubiales guilty, he could be banned for as little as two years for only “serious” misconduct.
Sports Minister Miquel Iceta regretted that the CSD could no longer directly suspend Rubiales. However, the sports authority will now apply to the Tad that the court suspend the sports boss for the duration of the proceedings, Iceta said in a first reaction to the judges’ decision at a press conference in Barcelona in the evening. This possibility is provided for by law. “We will not tolerate a lack of respect for women’s rights,” Iceta said.
Rubiales is currently unable to exercise his office anyway, because the world football association FIFA had already opened disciplinary proceedings against him last Saturday and suspended the 46-year-old for an initial period of 90 days. President Gianni Infantino commented with a delay and wrote on Instagram: “It should never have happened.” He was present when the trophy was handed over and trusts the investigation: “The disciplinary proceedings will take their rightful course.”
The RFEF is currently headed by Interim President Pedro Rocha. The association is also demanding Rubiales’ resignation. He continues to refuse.
Men’s coach apologizes
Rubiales had kissed the player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth without being asked at the award ceremony of the Spanish soccer world champions in Australia. Since then, the official has come under increasing pressure, and many in Spain have called for his resignation. However, in an angry speech to an extraordinary general assembly of the RFEF last Friday, Rubiales had denied it. The kiss was by mutual consent, he affirmed. However, Hermoso has denied this several times.
Spain’s men’s coach recently apologized for his applause during the controversial speech. “I was sharply criticized for it. I think that was completely justified, I regret it and apologize for it,” said the 62-year-old in Madrid. Like many other participants in the extraordinary general assembly of the RFEF football association a week ago, he thought he would take part in “a formal farewell ceremony for the president”. Contrary to expectations, Rubiales did not announce his resignation, instead fueling the scandal with attacks on the government, the media, footballers and “false feminism”. “It caught us by surprise and we weren’t prepared for it,” said de la Fuente. He was completely overwhelmed by the situation.