Luis Rubiales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luis Rubiales
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Rubiales in 2018
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| UEFA Vice-President | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 29 May 2019 – 10 September 2023 |
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| President | Aleksander Čeferin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President | Karl-Erik Nilsson (as first vice-president) |
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| 26th President of Royal Spanish Football Federation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 27 May 2018 – 10 September 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Ángel María Villar Juan Luis Larrea (interim) |
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| Succeeded by | Pedro Rocha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5th President of Association of Spanish Footballers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 22 March 2010 – 20 November 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Gerardo Movilla | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | David Aganzo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
Luis Manuel Rubiales Béjar
23 August 1977 Las Palmas, Spain |
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| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Footballer Football administrator |
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Association football career
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Luis Manuel Rubiales Béjar (born 23 August 1977) is a former Spanish football official and professional player. He played as a defender in 53 La Liga matches over three seasons.
Later, he became the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and a vice-president of UEFA. In September 2023, Rubiales left his job after a controversy involving player Jennifer Hermoso at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final. He is currently banned from all football activities for three years.
In April 2024, Rubiales was arrested as part of an investigation into a deal that moved the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
Contents
Early Life and Playing Career
Rubiales was born in Las Palmas, a city in the Canary Islands. He grew up in Motril, a town in southern Spain. His father was a teacher and his mother was a hairdresser.
Life as a Football Player
Rubiales played most of his career in Spain's second division, called the Segunda División. He played for several teams, including Levante, and helped them get promoted to La Liga, Spain's top league. He made his first appearance in La Liga on 29 August 2004.
In 2009, he moved to Scotland to play for Hamilton Academical. After only a few games, he decided to retire from playing football at age 32. He then returned to Spain to work for his old club, Levante.
Career in Football Administration
After he stopped playing, Rubiales took on leadership roles in football organizations. A person who does this is called a football administrator.
President of the AFE
In 2010, Rubiales was elected president of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE). This group helps protect the rights of football players in Spain. He left this job in 2017 to run for president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
President of the RFEF
Rubiales became the president of the RFEF in May 2018. The RFEF is the main organization in charge of football in Spain. One of his first major decisions was to fire the coach of the Spanish men's national team, Julen Lopetegui, right before the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This was because Lopetegui had agreed to become the manager of Real Madrid without telling the federation first.
Rubiales also disagreed with the president of the Spanish League, Javier Tebas, about playing some league games in the United States. Rubiales said the deal couldn't happen without the RFEF's approval.
Controversies and Investigations
During his time as president, Rubiales was involved in several controversies.
The Supercopa Files
In 2022, a newspaper released audio files from 2019. In the files, Rubiales was heard talking with footballer Gerard Piqué. They discussed a deal to move the Supercopa de España, a Spanish football tournament, to Saudi Arabia. The deal included payments to Piqué's company.
2023 Women's World Cup Incident
After the Spanish women's team won the Women's World Cup in August 2023, a major incident occurred. During the medal ceremony, Rubiales kissed player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips. Hermoso later said she did not like the kiss.
Many people, including the Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, criticized Rubiales for his actions. Rubiales at first apologized, saying he got carried away in a moment of excitement.
The Reaction
The incident led to many calls for Rubiales to resign. Hermoso, through her players' union, asked the RFEF to take action. Many famous players, like Héctor Bellerín and Borja Iglesias, also spoke out against Rubiales. The entire World Cup-winning squad said they would not play for the national team again until the leadership at the RFEF changed.
On 26 August 2023, FIFA, the world's governing body for football, suspended Rubiales for 90 days. This meant he could not be involved in any football activities.
Resignation and Ban
On 6 September 2023, Hermoso filed a criminal complaint against Rubiales. A few days later, on 10 September, Rubiales announced he was resigning as president of the RFEF and as vice-president of UEFA.
In October 2023, FIFA banned Rubiales from all football-related activities for three years. A Spanish sports court gave him a similar three-year ban in Spain. In February 2025, a court in Madrid found him guilty of serious misconduct for the incident. He was ordered to pay a fine and stay away from Hermoso.
Spanish Super Cup Investigation
In March 2024, police searched Rubiales' home in Spain and the RFEF headquarters. This was part of an investigation into the deal that moved the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. At the time, Rubiales was in the Dominican Republic. When he returned to Spain on 3 April 2024, he was arrested by police in Madrid.
Personal Life
Rubiales was married to a lawyer named Manuela Delicado Vega. They have three daughters together. The couple later separated.
Honours
Levante
- Segunda División: 2003–04
See also
In Spanish: Luis Rubiales para niños
