After the opening of disciplinary proceedings against him for having surprised world champion Jenni Hermoso on the mouth, the Spanish government will directly ask the Administrative Court for Sport (TAD) to suspend Luis Rubiales.

“The Superior Sports Council (CSD) will ask the court to temporarily suspend Luis Rubiales from office until the case against him is finally resolved,” Culture and Sports Minister Miquel Iceta said during of a press conference. Minutes later, Luis Rubiales broke the silence, saying 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 pressure and that of certain media is as self-serving as it is brutal and that information on this subject is the subject of a multitude of manipulations, lies and censorship,” denounced the president of the Spanish federation in a press release published by the newspaper El Mundo.

After five days of deliberation, the Spanish Administrative Court for Sport (TAD) on Friday opened disciplinary proceedings for “serious misconduct” against him, sources familiar with the matter told AFP.

But this procedure for “serious misconduct” and not “very serious”, as requested by the Spanish government, does not allow the Higher Sports Council (CSD), a body dependent on the Ministry of Sports, to pronounce a new suspension to the against Rubiales, already suspended by FIFA for 90 days as a precaution. An explanation confirmed by Miquel Iceta at a press conference on Friday, referring to the laws of professional sport in the country.

The CSD had filed a complaint with the sports court last Friday for two “very serious offences”, a possible “abuse of authority” and “acts prejudicial to the dignity or sporting propriety”, asking for the suspension of the president of the federation.

Minutes after La Roja’s world title on August 20 in Sydney, Spanish Football Federation boss Luis Rubiales surprised No. 10 Jenni Hermoso on the mouth, sparking international outrage.

Pushed to resign from all sides, Rubiales, 46, announced on August 25 that he would not leave his post “for a little kiss”, which he said was “consented”. He had also denounced a lawsuit brought by “false feminism”.

This speech was applauded by almost all of the General Assembly of the Spanish Federation (RFEF), including the coaches of the men’s and women’s teams.

Men’s coach Luis De la Fuente gave his mea culpa at a press conference on Friday and “asked for forgiveness”, saying the criticism against him was “totally deserved”.

“I came to the meeting convinced that we were going to see a president’s farewell and it was quite the opposite,” he said, saying he was “shocked” when Rubiales repeated that he would not resign, while his departure had been presented as a given by all the Spanish media.

Fifa, which had opened a disciplinary investigation against Luis Rubiales, suspended him on August 26 for 90 days “from any football-related activity at national and international level” pending the progress of the ongoing procedures.

On the judicial level, the Spanish public prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation into “facts which could constitute a crime of sexual assault” and invited Jenni Hermoso to come forward “within fifteen days” from August 28 in order to to be “informed of one’s rights”. A complaint on his part being essential to the launch of any proceedings.

The former FC Barcelona player, who claims to have felt “victimized by aggression”, has since received the support of many figures in Spanish sport, including Real Madrid and Barça legends Iker Casillas and Andrés Iniesta, the former Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol, and her national teammates, Alexia Putellas or Aitana Bonmati.

The latter also dedicated her award for best UEFA player of the year to her teammate and to “all the women who suffer”.

Several demonstrations have taken place in Spain this week calling for an end to impunity for gender-based violence, and gestures of support are on the football pitch, including banners “We are with you Jenni” and “