Rubiales will appeal the disqualification from FIFA: "I will go to the last resort"

   MADRID, 30 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales announced this Monday that he will appeal the disqualification for 3 years from any activity related to football by FIFA and that he will go to the "last instance" so that "it is done justice" and "let the truth shine."

"From now on I announce that I am going to appeal. I will go to the last resort so that justice is done and the truth shines. Due to the many efforts of some politicians, media and institutions, the disproportion and injustice committed is becoming clearer," said Luis Rubiales. on your official X account.

Rubiales thus responded to the sanction made public this Monday by FIFA to disqualify her for 3 years for considering that her conduct in the final of the last Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand violated the disciplinary code of the highest world football body.

"The FIFA Disciplinary Commission has disqualified Luis Rubiales, former president of the RFEF, from carrying out any activity related to football for three years, both nationally and internationally, considering that his conduct has violated article 13 of the Code. FIFA Disciplinary Committee," the entity reported this Monday.

FIFA thus referred to Rubiales' kiss to Jenni Hermoso at the medal ceremony at the Women's World Cup final, held on August 20, 2023, for which the former president was already suspended by the organization "provisionally" for a period of time. initial period of 90 days.

Given this decision by the organization, Rubiales, who learned about it through the media and continues to maintain that his version of the events is "the truth of what happened," spoke out this Monday with a statement in which he recounts the process from the opening of the file by FIFA on August 24, after which it was granted a period of 10 days to present its position.

However, according to the former president, on August 26, the president of the organization's Disciplinary Commission, "at 4:28 a.m. in Colombia - his country of residence -, contacted Hermoso by email, a means by which the footballer, just over an hour later, made it clear to the organization that he subscribed to the words published by FUTPRO condemning the conduct of Rubiales, who after this received his precautionary suspension.

"Two days after granting me a period of 10, I was notified of the precautionary suspension of my position as president of the RFEF, without having heard me. One hour and 12 minutes after receiving the player's email and without giving me the opportunity to declare nor to provide any evidence, I was suspended from my positions by FIFA," criticized the former president.

For this reason, Rubiales pointed out that FIFA's procedure "has been characterized by issuing decisions without their foundations", which has "prevented him from presenting an appeal immediately" and "without even having had a complete hearing" to defend himself. "FIFA based the decision and urgency on the fact that 'my presence as president of the RFEF could impede the administration of justice' (in the FIFA disciplinary procedure)," the statement explained.

"However, the decision of the Appeal Committee rejected my appeal on September 29, despite the fact that on September 11 I presented my resignation from both my position at the RFEF and at UEFA, where I held the vice presidency. If I no longer "I held no position in the world of football, how can I be a danger to the procedure by having a position?" he asked himself.

Rubiales reiterated that "everything was notified without grounds" that have not "yet" been conveyed to him, "preventing" the former president of the RFEF from being able to "again appeal the decision to the CAS." The former soccer player reported that he had not "yet" had a hearing before FIFA to present his arguments "in person." "But I was denied, without explaining the reason," he lamented.

Furthermore, he criticized that the Disciplinary Commission "from the beginning" included "only" in the file "the statements of people who, according to the press, had testified against me before the National Court", in news that "delved into a negative idea "towards his person. "I understand that any judging body must take into account all the available evidence and not only the evidence that supports the version of the party that wants to convict me," she recalled.

Thus, Rubiales considered this a "prejudice" against him, appealing directly to the words of the General Secretary of FIFA, Fatma Samoura, who described the former president's conduct as the "greatest disgrace in the world of football." Statements that, according to Rubiales, "call into question the impartiality and independence of the organizations under their charge."

"Based on the presumption of innocence that we all have to have, each one can draw their own conclusions about FIFA's way of acting in comparison with my file and other matters, in which at least the accused has had the opportunity to present their allegations before receiving a provisional sanction (if they received one). What's more, some of them have not been suspended, the accusations being much more serious," he compared with other cases.

As in previous situations, Rubiales spoke again of "political and media lynching", which has not taken into account "preserving the presumption of innocence" or "giving all parties the same opportunities so that the process is fair and proportional." "The disproportion and injustice committed in this matter is becoming clearer. People on a daily basis are also realizing it in a very majority way," he added.