Luis Rubiales has refused to step down from his role as Spanish FA (RFEF) president amid a FIFA probe and widespread criticism over his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final.
Rubiales has faced calls to quit after kissing striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips and grabbing his crotch in celebration shortly after the final whistle as Spain beat England on Sunday.
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FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings on Thursday against the 46-year-old, who chaired an extraordinary RFEF assembly on Friday.
“I’m not going to resign, I’m not going to resign, I’m NOT going to resign, I’m NOT going to resign, I’m not going to resign,” Rubiales declared on stage at the RFEF meeting.
“And I’ll tell you more: I’ve received a lot of pressure as well, not just you. A lot of comments have come to me. They’ve told me that the best thing would be to resign because if not, probably on Monday it would occur to someone to kick me out of the forum, find the formula.
“But we’re in a country where the law rules, where there has to be a motive to take you out of some place. And I say: what is it I’ve done? A consensual peck is enough to get me out of here?”
One RFEF source, speaking on condition of anonymity as they did not have permission to comment publicly, had told The Athletic on Wednesday that Rubiales, while regretful, had no intention of stepping down.
Rubiales also reiterated his commitment to Jorge Vilda, the controversial head coach of the Spain Women team.
Addressing Vilda, who was sat down in the audience at the RFEF meeting, Rubiales said: “I’ve activated the mechanisms so that Andreu (Camps, RFEF secretary general) starts negotiations with you in which I invite you to stay with us for the next four years, earning half a million euros a year.
“You deserve it, Jorge, we’ve gone through a lot, a lot. I’ve always said you were one of the best managers in the world in women’s football. Sincerely, I tell you you’re the best.”
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Vilda's position with Spain is stronger - but World Cup win will embolden players too
Me sangran los oídos 🎪🎭
— David de Gea (@D_DeGea) August 25, 2023
On the kiss, Hermoso had said, “Yeah (it happened), but I didn’t like it” while watching a video of the incident with her team-mates in an Instagram live broadcast in the dressing room after Spain’s 1-0 win over England.
“The kiss, the peck. I want to give my explanation too,” Rubiales continued. “Of course, whoever sees the video, in front of millions of people, on television, in front of my family, in front of my daughters, the desire I had with that kiss is the same as the one I would give to one of my daughters.
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“Therefore, there is no desire as the media sells it by paying respect to Mr (Javier) Tebas (La Liga president) as false feminism. It was spontaneous, mutual and consensual.
“It was consensual. I have a great relationship with all the players and we have experienced very affectionate moments in this camp.
“In the moment that Jenni appeared, she lifted me off the ground and in dropping me we hugged and I said to her: ‘Forget about the penalty, you’ve been fantastic in this World Cup,’ and she told me, ‘You’re a crack’. I said, ‘A little peck?’ and it happened.
“From there we went on to the player’s silence and a statement that I don’t quite understand. A social assassination is being carried out, they are trying to kill me. As a Spaniard, we have to reflect on where we are going.
“For the last five years, I have suffered persecution. I said it when I arrived here: some powerful people are going to be annoyed that I am here.
“I am talking to my three daughters. False feminism doesn’t seek justice, it doesn’t care about people. They are preparing an execution to put on a medal, but that’s not the way forward.”
Rubiales was given a standing ovation from much of the room, which included his family (he pointed out his daughters and father), Vilda and his coaching staff, the rest of the assembly members and Spain Men’s head coach Luis de la Fuente.
Alexia Putellas, Hermoso’s Spain and former Barcelona team-mate, was among those who were critical of Rubiales’ speech at the RFEF assembly, tweeting: “This is unacceptable. It’s over. With you partner.”
Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper and Spain international David de Gea, meanwhile, posted: “My ears are bleeding”, while retired Spain No 1 Iker Casillas also wrote: “Total embarrassment.”
Borja Iglesias, the Real Betis striker, effectively ruled himself out of selection for the men’s national team following the events at the RFEF assembly.
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In a statement shortly after the RFEF assembly, Tebas posted: “Although the crude victimisation trick has worked too many times, this time to continue trying it is simply ridiculous.
“It is simply impossible to attribute his misogynistic and despicable behaviour to any absurd conspiracy when the reputational damage for all of Spanish football is inevitable.”
The RFEF issued a statement defending Rubiales’ position late on Friday night.
It read: “The RFEF wishes to inform public opinion that the competent bodies of the RFEF that are processing the complaints filed with the Federation have tried to contact Ms. Jennifer Hermoso, having been unsuccessful at all times. The RFEF announces the presentation of as many legal actions as may correspond in defence of the honorability of the President of the RFEF who has exposed in a clear and simple way how the events that are the cause of conflict and ridicule on the part of broad sectors of the society occurred.
“The note says (quotation marks attributed to Ms Jennifer Hermoso): ‘I want to clarify that, as seen in the images, at no time did I consent to the kiss he gave me and of course in no case did I seek to lift up the president. I do not tolerate that my word is questioned, much less that words are invented that I have not said.’
“In a rule of law, as the president has defended, opinions are counteracted with facts and evidence, and lies are rebutted in court. The president of the RFEF has wanted to take this issue with the utmost respect for the players and the institutions and only when an unassumable red line has been crossed has he come out publicly to give his version of the facts. The President’s version of events is verified in the internal files that have been opened, and to date Ms Jennifer Hermoso has not responded to any of the requests made.”
During his speech, Rubiales did apologise for grabbing his crotch while celebrating Spain’s win at Stadium Australia in Sydney, adding: “I want to say sorry for an event which happened in the box.
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“I’m going to explain it looking at Jorge Vilda. We’ve gone through a lot, they’ve wanted to do to you the same thing that now they’re doing to me. They’re trying to create a false discourse and turn it into reality.”
Rubiales had officially apologised for his actions in a video message following Sunday’s 1-0 win over England, but continued to face calls to resign from several high-profile individuals in Spanish sport and society.
#FIFPRO statement on Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales: pic.twitter.com/HprUCh9VLN
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) August 25, 2023
Spain’s High Council for Sports (CSD) had received complaints about Rubiales and world football’s governing body intervened on Thursday.
FIFA’s disciplinary code, which it referenced in its statement confirming proceedings had been opened against Rubiales, notes that measures may be taken against for anyone “violating the basic rules of decent conduct” or “insulting a natural or legal person in any way, especially by using offensive gestures, signs or language”.
The frustration we feel at this discourse is the wall the players have had to come up against for years. I can understand the frustration of those who decided to keep fighting and those who decided to give up.
— Laia Cervelló Herrero (@Laia_Cervello) August 25, 2023
The RFEF later released a statement to Spanish news agency EFE, which quoted Hermoso as saying she had no problem with what was “a mutual gesture that was totally spontaneous due to the immense joy of winning a World Cup”.
Hermoso, later speaking through the Spanish women’s players’ union and her agency on Thursday, said: “My Union FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and being the intermediaries on this subject.”
Rubiales has also been criticised by acting prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, and culture and sport minister, Miquel Iceta, as the backlash continued.
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Controversy and condemnation after World Cup kiss - Luis Rubiales is no stranger to either
Additional reporting: Tomás Hill López-Menchero
(Photo: Getty Images)