Spain’s Administrative Court for Sport (TAD) has opened disciplinary proceedings for “serious misconduct” against the suspended president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, after his forced kiss on player Jenni Hermoso, Agence France reported. – Press sources close to the file.
The opening of a procedure for “serious misconduct” and not “very serious”, as requested by the Spanish government, does not allow the Superior Sports Council (CSD), a governmental body, to pronounce a new sanction on the against Rubiales, already suspended by FIFA for ninety days as a precaution. An explanation confirmed by the Spanish Minister of Culture and Sport, Miquel Iceta, at a press conference on Friday, September 1, referring to the laws governing professional sport in the country.
The Spanish government “will ask” the TAD directly to “proceed with the temporary suspension” of Luis Rubiales, Culture and Sports Minister Miquel Iceta said on Friday. “The Higher Sports Council will ask the court to temporarily suspend Luis Rubiales from office until the case against him is finally resolved,” Iceta told a news conference.
The TAD had been deliberating since last Monday on the complaint filed last Friday by the CSD for two “very serious offences”, a possible “abuse of authority” and “acts undermining sporting dignity or propriety”, requesting the suspension of the president of the federation.
Wave of international indignation
“We continue to believe that this complaint has all the legal grounds to be treated as a very serious offence”, explained Monday the Secretary of State for Sports and President of the CSD, Victor Francos. The “very serious” qualification of the facts was necessary for the CSD to suspend Rubiales pending the TAD’s final verdict.
Luis Rubiales, who sparked international outrage by surprisingly kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth during the World Cup medal ceremony, has been suspended for ninety days by FIFA, who also opened disciplinary proceedings against him last week.
Luis Rubiales said Friday he would continue to defend himself “to prove the truth.” “I continue to trust the independence of the forums where this issue is to be resolved, despite the fact that political and media pressure is as self-serving as it is brutal and information on this subject is subject to scrutiny. multitude of manipulations, lies and censorship,” Mr. Rubiales denounced in a statement published by the daily El Mundo.
In addition to sports justice, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the National Audience, Spain’s main criminal court, has decided to open proceedings for “sexual assault” against him, according to a press release. The prosecution clarified that it was basing itself on the “public statements” of the player, but that it will contact her to offer to file a complaint, an essential step to advance the criminal procedure.