The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected an appeal by former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales, upholding FIFA’s three-year suspension from all football-related activities.
Rubiales had challenged the decision of the FIFA Appeals Committee, which on 16 January 2024 confirmed his ban for breaching the FIFA Disciplinary Code (Article 13).
His actions during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final in Australia and New Zealand 2023 were cited as the reason for the suspension.
The former RFEF president had sought to have the decision overturned or, at the very least, for the length of the suspension to be reduced. However, CAS ruled that his conduct at the tournament amounted to “multiple and serious violations” of FIFA regulations and deemed the punishment “reasonable and proportional.”
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeal by Mr Luis Rubiales against FIFA concerning his three-year suspension from any football-related activity for having behaved in a manner contrary to the principles of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
“The CAS Panel ruled that the sanction imposed is reasonable and proportional,” a statement from CAS read.
“Mr Rubiales filed an appeal against a decision (‘Contested Decision’) rendered on 16 January 2024 by the FIFA Appeals Committee, which upheld a three-year ban following behaviour contrary to the FIFA Disciplinary Code (art.13) at the Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.
“The appeal sought to set the Contested Decision aside, or in the alternative to set it partially aside and amend the sanction, or in the further alternative, apply any other disciplinary measures.”
CAS ultimately upheld FIFA’s decision in full, maintaining that Rubiales’ actions warranted the ban.
“The CAS Panel determined that the behaviour of Mr Rubiales at the Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 constituted multiple and serious violations of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (art.13) and saw no reason to consider the sanction to be disproportionate.
“The appeal by Mr Rubiales is dismissed, and the Contested Decision is maintained,” the statement added.
With CAS dismissing the appeal, Rubiales’ three-year suspension remains in force, preventing him from participating in any football-related activities during this period.
