The governing body of European soccer heads to its annual awards gala on Thursday in Monaco amid turmoil created by its vice president from Spain.
Luis Rubiales won’t be at the high-end ceremony in Monte Carlo where the awards for best player and coach will be made because he has been suspended by FIFA, the sport’s ultimate governing body. Spain could sweep the prizes for women’s soccer.
FIFA suspended Rubiales, who is both the president of the Spanish soccer federation and a vice president at European soccer body UEFA, for at least 90 days while it investigates the kiss he forced on Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso and the ongoing fallout from his overall conduct at the final in Sydney, Australia.
UEFA has stayed publicly silent in the 10 days since Rubiales provoked a furor in Spain and elsewhere, later fueled by his defiant refusal to resign.
