Luis Rubiales could have been hit with a more severe sanction than the three-year ban he was handed for kissing Jenni Hermoso, FIFA has confirmed.

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Rubiales banned from football for three yearsRFEF president kissed Hermoso without consentFIFA considered even more severe punishmentWHAT HAPPENED?

The former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president was hit with a suspension from the governing body after he kissed the Spain star without her consent during their World Cup final celebrations. Rubiales consistently denied any wrongdoing and initially refused to step down despite pressure from within the RFEF and around the football world.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Rubiales, who insists Hermoso consented and still refuses to apologise, was hit with an initial temporary suspension by FIFA and eventually stepped down before his full three-year ban was confirmed in October. FIFA published the details of its ruling on Wednesday and heavily criticised the 46-year-old, adding that it was tempted to hit him with an even greater punishment.

WHAT FIFA SAID

A document released by FIFA said: "First of all, the Committee pointed out that the behaviour of the Respondent [Rubiales] was particularly indefensible in relation to the incidents at stake, specifically considering the extent of his experience in the football world, but also in view of his positions as (i) President of one of the most prestigious member associations, (ii) member of the UEFA Executive Committee and (iii) one of the UEFA vice- presidents.

"In other words, in such a context, it was absolutely and categorically expected of him to maintain and embody the highest levels of professionalism, beyond the usual standards, especially at a moment where his country was at the apex level of women's football. In this regard, the Committee could not stress enough that – regardless of the emotional state he was in during and after the Match -the Respondents behaviour was inexcusable and unacceptable, especially considering his high rank within the football ecosystem at the time."

The statement added later: "In this context, the Committee wished to stress that it was tempted to impose more severe sanctions in view of the seriousness and gravity of the incidents at stake as well as of the profound negative impact that the Respondents actions had on the image of FIFA, women's football and women's sport in general. However and even with strong hesitations, the Disciplinary Committee was satisfied that the imposition of such a measure would serve the necessary deterrent effect upon the Respondent given his established (prohibited) behaviour(s), but also the category of the competition in which the incident(s) had occurred and the significant impact of those. In fact, the Committee was hopeful in its outlook that such sanction, as previously mentioned, would serve to have the necessary deterrent effect upon the Respondent in order to avoid the occurrence of any similar incident(s) in the future."

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RUBIALES?

After being banned from all sporting activities for three years, which he plans on appealing, it has been reported that Rubiales is under a legal investigation over accusations that he sexually assaulted Hermoso by kissing her without the player's consent.