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Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by world governing body Fifa.
Rubiales has refused to resign after kissing forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win over England in Sydney.
The federation also says it will take legal action over Hermoso’s “lies”.
But Fifa has opted to “provisionally suspend Mr Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level”.
In response the Spanish football federation (RFEF) said Rubiales would “legally defend himself”
“He fully trusts Fifa and reiterates that, in this way, he is given the opportunity to begin his defence so that the truth prevails and his complete innocence is proven,” the RFEF said.
The statement added that vice president Pedro Rocha Junco has taken on the role of interim president while Rubiales is suspended.
Fifa opened disciplinary proceedings against the 46-year-old on Thursday.
“This suspension, which will be effective as of today, is for an initial period of 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings,” Fifa added.
Fifa has also ordered Rubiales or any representative of the federation (RFEF) to refrain from attempting to contact Hermoso, 33.
The RFEF said in an earlier statement it had tried to contact Hermoso, who is Spain’s leading women’s goalscorer with 51 from 101 appearances, but had “been unsuccessful at all times”.
Earlier, a senior figure at the RFEF said he has stepped down from his position.
“I have presented my resignation after seeing that Luis Rubiales continues to head the Spanish federation,” said vice-president Rafael del Amo.
“I owe a lot of things to Luis but what happened in the final is unacceptable.”
Source: BBC
