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FIFA suspends Spanish soccer chief Rubiales after Hermoso kiss
The women's team announced a strike on Friday, following a defiant statement by the president, who described the kiss as consensual and refused to step down
FIFA suspended Luis Rubiales as president of Spain's soccer federation on Saturday for kissing Spanish Women's World Cup player Jenni Hermoso on the lips, and banned him from making contact with her.
"(We) decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all [soccer]-related activities at national and international level," said world soccer's governing body in a statement.
Rubiales will be under FIFA's suspension for 90 days while they carry out disciplinary proceedings against him. It has also been mandated that both Rubiales and the RFEF are not allowed to get in touch with Hermoso or those closely associated with her.
The decision from FIFA comes after the Spanish soccer federation on Saturday accused Women's World Cup player Jenni Hermoso's of "lies" about her kiss with federation president Luis Rubiales and threatened to take legal action.
Rubiales refused to quit earlier on Friday, casting himself as the victim; this fueled anger among players and government ministers who decried his actions as unacceptable misogynist behavior.
The federation (RFEF) and Rubiales said they would prove "each of the lies that have been spread, whether in the name of the player, if that is the case, or by the player herself." It would take "as many legal actions as necessary to defend the honor of the President of the RFEF."
Hermoso said she was "vulnerable and was the victim of an aggression."
A total of 81 players, including Hermoso and the entire World Cup-winning team, signed a joint statement sent via their FUTPRO union demanding the removal of the federation leadership and announcing a strike until their demands are met.
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