Spanish FA boss Rubiales insists he will not be driven out over ‘that kiss’
AIPS: Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football federation, has adamantly refused to resign from his position, amid intense pressure.
Rubiales, having put both world and Europe’s governing bodies FIFA and UEFA, on the spot, insisted that his kiss on the lips of Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory on Sunday was a “consensual peck”, and that he had kissed Hermoso as if she were his daughter.
FIFA has launched a disciplinary investigation into the behaviour of Rubiales and the Spanish women’s team have all signed a statement refusing to play while he remains in post.
Rubiales, a UEFA vice-president, told an RFEF emergency assembly that he was being “socially assassinated” because of “false feminism”, which he described as a “scourge of society”.
The 46-year-old added: “Do you think this is so serious that I should go, after the best management in the history of Spanish football? Let me tell you: I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign.
“I’ve come under pressure. Perhaps somebody will look to remove me on Monday. But we live in a country of laws. Is a consensual peck going to take me out of here? I will fight until the end.”
Beyond that room there has been widespread condemnation and questions raised about Spain’s joint bid with Portugal and Morocco to host the 2030 World Cup finals.
The president of Spain’s Sports Council and its Secretary of State for Sport, Victor Francos, confirmed the CSD would take action against Rubiales. Acting Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz wrote on social media: “The government must act and take urgent measures: impunity for macho actions is over. Rubiales cannot continue in office.
Rubiales blamed the excitement of the moment for grabbing his crotch during the presentation ceremony.
He said: “In a moment of euphoria, I grabbed that part of my body.
“I was looking at [coach] Jorge Vilda. We’ve been through a lot this year. People have wanted to do the same to [Vilda] that people are doing to me, with a false narrative. We’ve suffered a lot. I got very emotional and lost control. … I must apologise to the Queen, the Infanta and the Royal Household. My sincere apologies.”
Regarding the controversial kiss, he said: “My desire in that moment was exactly the same as if I’d have been kissing one of my daughters. No more or less. Everybody understands that. It was a spontaneous kiss, mutual, euphoric and consensual. That’s the key.
“[Hermoso] had missed a penalty. I have a great relationship with all the players. … In the moment that Jenni arrived, she lifted me up off the ground. We almost fell over. We hugged. I said, ‘Forget about the penalty, you’ve been fantastic, we wouldn’t have won the World Cup without you.’ She said: ‘You’re great.’ I said, ‘A kiss?’ and she said: ‘Yes.’
“From ‘no big deal’ and all that, then the pressure starts, the silence of the player and a statement [from Hermoso] that I don’t understand. Justice isn’t being done here. This is a social assassination of me, they’re trying to kill me.”
On Wednesday, in a joint statement with her players’ union, FUTPRO, Hermoso, who on Sunday had revealed on Instagram that she “didn’t like” the Rubiales’ gesture, said: “My union, FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency, TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and being the interlocutors on this matter.”
Reacting to Rubiales’ speech on Friday, former Spain internationals posted their criticism on social media.
David de Gea said: “My ears are bleeding.” Iker Casillas said, “Total embarrassment.” The former Real Madrid goalkeeper then added: “We should have spent these five days talking about our girls, of the joy they gave us all, to boast of a title that we did not have in women’s football but… ”
Betis player Borja Iglesias has ruled himself out of the men’s national team as long as Rubiales remains
in charge.
Hermoso’s teammates have been expressing their support for her.
“There are limits that cannot be crossed and we cannot tolerate this. We are with you mate,” Aitana Bonmatí, the MVP of the just-concluded FIFA Women’s World Cup posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Mapi León, one of the Spanish stars who staged a revolt against coach Jorge Vilda last year has refused to return to the Spanish national team until necessary changes are made, added: “It is not necessary to spend a lot of time to see that what was demanded a few months ago was not a simple tantrum. The images speak for themselves, and I don’t think there is much more to add. It is unacceptable. With you Jenni Hermoso.”
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