“The kiss was the same I could give one of my daughters”.
Luis Rubiales has refused to resign as Spanish FA president for kissing Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s Women’s World Cup final victory on Sunday and says he has been subjected to a ‘social assassination’.
Luis Rubiales claimed he is the victim of a witch hunt by “false feminists” as he refused to resign as Spanish FA president for kissing Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s Women’s World Cup final victory on Sunday.
Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), embraced the forward before kissing her on the lips during the medal ceremony following the team’s 1-0 win against England in Sydney.
READ ALSO:
Tears As Nigerian Military Buries 20 Soldiers Killed In Niger + PHOTOS
Putin Didn’t Order Plane Crash To Kill Prigozhin – Russia
Spanish Woman’s W’Cup Kiss Scandal Degenerates, FA Chief To Quit
After initially calling his critics “idiots”, Rubiales apologised on Monday and it was expected he would bow to the pressure of the growing calls for him to stand down.
However, he shocked the footballing world in an extraordinary address to an emergency general assembly of the Spanish Football Federation that lasted over half an hour on Friday as he shouted, “I will not resign” repeatedly.
Rubiales, who is now under investigation by FIFA, also said of the incident: “The kiss was the same I could give one of my daughters.”
READ ALSO:
Jama-at-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria Elects Engr Ashim Oyekan as President
Seven Football Fans Die, Dozens Injured In Brazil Bus Crash
Hermoso had said in a video streamed on social media after the kiss that “I didn’t like it, but what can I do?”
The Spanish players’ union (AFE) reacted to Rubiales’ speech on Friday by demanding his dismissal, and said he “should not continue for one more minute” in his role as head of the Spanish FA.
They wrote: “We find it shameful that, once again, he has tried to justify his deplorable attitude by focusing on our colleague Jennifer Hermoso, who was the only true victim of the despicable episode starring Luis Rubiales after the Women’s World Cup final.
“The image of Spanish sport, both nationally and internationally, has once again been seriously damaged by Luis Rubiales, who with his actions every day puts Spain’s candidacy to host the 2030 World Cup at greater risk.”
Liga F, the Spanish women’s top flight where 22 of the World Cup winning squad’s 24 players play domestically, made an unprecedented statement of their own on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “It’s time to change this forever” with regards to Rubiales’ position.
FIFPro, the global players’ union, also called for immediate disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales and said any lack of action would “send a completely unacceptable and damaging message to the football industry”.
Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias, who made his debut for the national side last year and was in Luis de la Fuente’s last squad, has said he will not play for his country again “until things change and this type of act does not go unpunished”.
In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, the 30-year-old wrote: “As a footballer and as a person I don’t feel represented by what happened today. Wearing the Spanish national team shirt is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my career.
“I don’t know if at some point I will be an option again, but I have made the decision not to return to the national team until things change and this type of act does not go unpunished.”
Before the kiss, Rubiales had also grabbed his crotch in a lewd victory gesture from the section of dignitaries at the stadium, with Spain’s Queen Letizia and the 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia standing nearby.
“I apologise for my mistakes,” he added. “I’m going to continue fighting as my parents and my coaches taught me. Those who know me, know that we are going to get to the end.”
Rubiales’ speech was regularly interrupted by applause from the crowd and ended with a standing ovation – with Spain Women’s head coach Jorge Vilda and De la Fuente, the men’s head coach, among those on their feet.
FIFA, in opening proceedings against Rubiales on Thursday, said it remained committed to “respecting the integrity of all individuals, and strongly condemns any behaviour to the contrary”.
It said Rubiales’ conduct may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs one and two of the FIFA disciplinary code.
That section of the code covers “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play”.
The code cites examples of behaviour which could lead to disciplinary measures being taken, including “insulting a natural or legal person in any way, especially by using offensive gestures, signs or language” and “behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute”.
