Rubiales and representatives of the Royal Spanish Football Federation were also ordered to refrain from contacting Hermoso and his relatives, according to the statement.
Rubiales was informed of “the decision adopted by the president of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee,” the statement added.
The announcement came hours after the Spanish soccer federation said Saturday it would take legal action to defend Rubiales against “lies.”
In a statement published on its website, the federation said that Rubiales “declared that he will defend himself legally before the competent authorities, that he has full confidence in the FIFA authorities and reiterates that, in this way, he has the opportunity to begin his defense in such a way that the truth prevails and his complete innocence is proven.”
The press release did not specify what the legal action would consist of. He added that Pedro Rocha Junco, vice-president of the federation, would take over in the interim.
Hermoso said in a statement Friday that she did not consent to the kiss and that she felt “vulnerable and a victim of assault.” She added that Rubiales’ explanation of “this unfortunate event” was “categorically false and part of the manipulative culture he created.”
Rubiales was handing out gold medals to the team after their 1-0 win over England in Sydney on Sunday when he hugged and kissed Hermoso.
Despite widespread speculation that he would resign, Rubiales who described the kiss as “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual”, refused to resign on its actions Friday.
Friday, during an emergency general assembly of the federation, he declared four times in a row “I will not resign” and claimed to be the victim of a witch hunt led by “false feminists”.
He received some applause from the huge male congregation after telling them she had lifted him up to celebrate and he asked her for “a little kiss?” and she said yes. “The kiss was the same one I might give to one of my daughters,” Rubiales said.
In his statement, Hermoso denied Rubiales’ claim that the kiss he gave her was consensual. “I would like to clarify that, as seen in the images, at no time did I consent to the kiss he gave me and, of course, in no case did I seek to raise the president” , she said.
The player has gained the support of the Spanish government, which cannot fire Rubiales but has strongly denounced his actions and is seeking his suspension through legal proceedings in a sports court.
Acting Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz called his Friday speech “unacceptable.” She wrote on social media that “the government must act and take urgent measures: impunity for macho acts is over. Rubiales cannot stay in power.”
Her teammates also supported her. The 23 members of the cup-winning team, including Hermoso, as well as 32 other team members, declared that they would not play international matches as long as Rubiales remained in charge of the federation.
In a statement on
“It fills us with sadness that such an unacceptable event manages to tarnish the greatest sporting achievement of Spanish women’s football,” he said, adding: “After everything that happened during the medal ceremony of the Women’s World Cup, we want to declare that all players who sign this letter will not return to a call-up from the national team if the current leaders continue.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee also said on Friday that it had opened an investigation in Rubiales. Football’s governing body said in a statement that his actions “may constitute breaches” of its disciplinary code.
Gender issues have become a major topic in Spain in recent years. Tens of thousands of women took part in street marches to protest against sexual violence and abuse.
The Socialist-led coalition government has presided over legal reforms including equal pay, abortion, sex work and transgender rights.
