The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal by former Spanish football chief 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, upheld his ban for conduct deemed contrary to the principles of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (Article 13).
His behaviour at the Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 was cited as the reason for the suspension.
Seeking to overturn the ruling, Rubiales argued for the decision to be set aside or, at the very least, for the sanction to be reduced.
However, the CAS Panel found his conduct at the tournament constituted “multiple and serious violations” of FIFA’s regulations and ruled that the punishment was both “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 portion of CAS communique via email said.
“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.
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 said.
With CAS rejecting the appeal in its entirety, Rubiales’ three-year ban remains in place, barring him from any involvement in football-related activities.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
