The appeal committee of FIFA, the body that oversees football worldwide, upheld Luis Rubiales’ three-year suspension on Friday, rejecting an appeal filed by the former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final victory over England in August, Rubiales allegedly kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent. As a result, on October 30, he was banned for three years from all football-related activities.

FIFA said that it had reached a decision following a hearing. Nonetheless, there is still the option to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Read Also:FIFA Bans Rubiales For All Football Related Activities For 3-Year

“The Appeal Committee was comfortably satisfied that Mr Rubiales behaved in a manner contrary to the principles enshrined under article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code during and after the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” FIFA said.

FIFA further stated that Rubiales has been informed of the outcome.

The 46-year-old said that his job at the RFEF had become unsustainable when he resigned in September.

At first, he had promised to stay in office in spite of demands from athletes, lawmakers, and women’s organisations.

Following an investigation, the Spanish High Court judge suggested on Thursday that Rubiales be put on trial for the kiss, stating that it “was not consensual and was a unilateral and surprising initiative.”

In addition, the judge requested that former women’s team coach Jorge Vilda, men’s team sport director Albert Luque, and federation marketing chief Ruben Rivera also stand trial for pressing Hermoso to claim the kiss was consensual.