Women's World Cup 'kiss storm' Spanish president could face hefty FIFA ban

FIFA could ban former Hamilton Accies player Luis Rubiales from all football for 15 years, after the Spanish FA president kissed striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s 1-0 Women’s World Cup final win over England.

Rubiales, who played three times for Hamilton Accies in 2009, has since stressed that he won’t resign after the incident sparked a furious backlash, with the Spanish FA initially claiming they would take legal action over Hermoso’s “lies”.

FIFA have since suspended him.

Hermoso said on Friday that she didn’t consent to the kiss following the dramatic final clash in Sydney, Australia, while Rubiales (pictured below during his time with Accies) said that the player did.

He claimed the kiss was “mutual, euphoric and consensual”.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) initially backed Rubiales, but regional leaders have now called on him to resign.

In an earlier statement, the RFEF claimed images showed that Hermoso applied the force in an embrace to lift Rubiales’ feet off the ground, suggesting she consented to the kiss.

But players’ union Futpro, which is representing Hermoso, quotes the 33-year-old as saying: “In no case did I seek to raise (lift) the president” while they embraced on the podium.

Following this, 81 female players have said they will not represent Spain again until Rubiales has been removed from his post, in solidarity with Hermoso. Jorge Vilda’s entire backroom staff have resigned in protest. Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias has also said he won’t play for the men’s national team until this happens.

Rubiales, 46, was also seen grabbing his crotch when Spain won the final, which he watched from the VIP area of Stadium Australia on August 20.

FIFA’s investigation is ongoing,