FIFA suspends Spanish Football Federation President

(Patria) - The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has temporarily suspended the President of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales for 90 days.

This was announced today by the organization amidst accusations that he grabbed player Jennifer Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips after Spain's victory in the Women's World Cup.

Rubiales was expected to announce his resignation on Friday, but instead said he would not step down. The RFEF stood by him today and threatened legal action after Hermoso said she did not consent to the kiss.

"The Chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has today decided to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level," FIFA said in a statement.

The Disciplinary Board also ordered Rubiales, as well as RFEF officials and employees, to refrain from contacting or attempting to contact Hermoso or those close to her.

The Spanish national team, which won the World Cup, as well as several other players, have said they will not play international matches while Rubiales is at the head of the Federation.

The Spanish Football Federation has firmly stood by its president Rubiales. In a statement released in the early hours, the Federation stated that it would take legal action to defend him and that it would show that there were lies in the actions of Hermoso or the people speaking on her behalf.

The statement on the Royal Spanish Football Federation's website did not specify what legal action would be taken.

Rubiales refused to resign as head of the RFEF on Friday due to his actions last week in Sydney, wanting to defend his behavior and calling the kiss "spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual".

Hermoso said she did not consent to the kiss and felt "vulnerable and a victim of aggression," Reuters reported, as cited by RSE.

She has received the support of the Spanish government, which, although unable to dismiss Rubiales, has strongly condemned his actions and intends to suspend him before the sports court.

The Spanish women's national team has also rebelled. In a joint statement sent through their union FUTPRO on Friday evening, all 23 members of the World Cup-winning team, including Hermoso, as well as 32 other team members, said they would not play international matches while Rubiales was at the head of the Federation.

In the same statement, Hermoso denied Rubiales' claim that the kiss he gave her was consensual:

"I want to clarify that, as seen in the images, at no time did I consent to the kiss he gave me and that, of course, in no case did I try to lift the president."