The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected an appeal on Friday from Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, who sought to overturn a three-year suspension from soccer. This suspension was levied by FIFA due to Rubiales’ actions during the celebration of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, specifically for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent.

This ruling came shortly after Rubiales was found guilty of sexually assaulting Hermoso. Following this verdict, he was ordered to pay fines exceeding 10,000 euros (approximately $10,400), and he is now prohibited from being within 200 meters of Hermoso or communicating with her for a year.

FIFA’s ban, which was issued in October 2023, means Rubiales will be unable to participate in any soccer-related activities until after the men’s World Cup in 2026. According to CAS, the panel concluded that Rubiales’ behavior during the Women’s World Cup final amounted to serious misconduct, resulting in significant violations of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. They found no justification to deem the punishment as excessive.

The CAS panel affirmed that the penalty imposed on Rubiales was both fair and appropriate given the circumstances surrounding the case. The court’s ruling reinforces FIFA’s stance on maintaining the integrity and respect within the sport, particularly regarding matters of consent and player safety.