Rubiales loses appeal of three-year FIFA ban
Disgraced Spanish soccer official Luis Rubiales lost his appeal against a three-year ban for misconduct at the Women's World Cup final, including forcibly kissing star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips, FIFA said Friday.
The FIFA appeals body rarely changes verdicts of the world soccer body's disciplinary committee, but is a necessary step to pass before taking a case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld,” it said Friday.
The FIFA appeal verdict came one day after an investigative judge in Madrid said Rubiales, a former player and union leader, must stand trial on charges of sexual assault and coercion against Hermoso. He has denied wrongdoing.
Charles Leclerc will continue driving for Ferrari after signing a multi-year contract extension on Thursday.
Ferrari did not reveal the length of the new deal, but the 26-year-old Leclerc said he will be wearing the iconic red of the team for “several more seasons.”
Leclerc has been part of the Italian team for eight years after joining its driver academy in 2016, although he made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2018. He first raced for Ferrari the following year.
Leclerc claimed back-to-back wins in Belgium and Italy in his first season with Ferrari, becoming the youngest driver in the team's history to win a grand prix when he triumphed at Spa-Francorchamps. He since has three more race wins.