Berlin, 1 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Former Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales has been banned from football activities for three years by FIFA over the women's World Cup kissing affair, the ruling body said on Monday.

Rubiales kissed Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the victory ceremony after Spain won the title on August 20 in Sydney. Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual.

FIFA provisionally suspended Rubiales a week later and he was now banned by the FIFA disciplinary committee.

“The FIFA disciplinary committee has banned Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF), from all football-related activities at national and international levels for three years, having found that he acted in breach of article 13 of the FIFA disciplinary code,” FIFA said.

“This case relates to the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on 20 August 2023, for which Mr Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for an initial period of 90 days.

"FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld."

Article 13 deals with "offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play" in its various forms.

FIFA said that Rubiales has 10 days to request a detailled decision and has the right to appeal the disciplinary committee ruling. He can also go before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The incident caused wide-ranging outrage in and outside of Spain.

Rubiales protested his innocence and initially wanted to stay on as RFEF president before eventually stepping down in mid-September.

He is also under investigation in Spain after Hermoso filed a criminal complaint. Rubiales has insisted the kiss was consensual and he denied accusations of sexual assault when testifying for the first time.

The case led to the sacking of women's coach Jorge Vilda, after his staff had resigned. Montse Tome is now in charge, with the team playing Switzerland in the Nations League on Tuesday.

Hermoso was not picked for the first post-World Cup games in September, but has now returned and scored an emotional late 1-0 winner in Italy on Friday.

Photo: X