UEFA has moved next year’s annual congress from Madrid to Paris in the ongoing fallout of a scandal involving former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales, who was also a vice president of UEFA.
At a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee in Cyprus on Tuesday the organisation confirmed the event schedule for February 8, 2024 would be moved from the Spanish capital to the French capital.
Rubiales resigned from his role as RFEF (Spanish FA) president earlier this month and had previously been suspended by FIFA. He has been replaced as a UEFA vice president by Armand Duka of Albania, an executive committee member.
The congress is moving away from Spain because the Spanish FA has no president and an interim general secretary.
Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win on August 20. Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual but Rubiales insists it was.
After three weeks of criticism and calls for his resignation, Rubiales confirmed that he would no longer continue in his position earlier this month.
Rubiales and the RFEF has come under fierce criticism around the world for their handling of the issue.
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League group stage draw is also being moved from Madrid to Paris on the same day.
Last month, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin called Rubiales’ actions “inappropriate” though fell short of calling for his resignation.
GO DEEPER
Jenni Hermoso and Luis Rubiales: A timeline of what happened after Spain’s World Cup win
(Photo: Maja Hitij – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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