The boss of Spanish football, Luis Rubiales, presented “(his) apologies” on Friday, at the opening of an extraordinary general meeting of the Spanish federation convened urgently in Madrid in the context of the forced kiss on a player from La Roja women on Sunday in the World Cup final.
But Luis Rubiales also defended his actions, saying his kiss on the mouth of Jenni Hermoso, a national team player, was “spontaneous, mutual and consensual” and hadn’t been administered for a “position of power”.
Luis Rubiales’ reaction “unacceptable”, according to Alexia Putellas, Ballon d’Or
The Spaniard Alexia Putellas, Ballon d’Or, considered “unacceptable” the speech of the boss of football in his country Luis Rubiales who decided not to resign despite his forced kiss on the player Jenni Hermoso. “It’s unacceptable. Let’s get it over with. I’m with you dear Jenni Hermoso”, reacted the FC Barcelona player on the social network “X” (formerly Twitter).
Esto is unacceptable. Se acabo. Contigo compañera @Jennihermoso
— Alexia Putellas (@alexiaputellas) August 25, 2023
Rubiales denounces “false feminism”
“My God, what will women who have really been sexually assaulted think? In Spain, kissing someone without their consent is considered an offense under the law on sexual assault. In particular, he attacked three women members of the government by name, including the Communist Minister of Labor and number three in the government, Yolanda Díaz, who had been one of the first to demand his resignation.
Himself the father of three daughters, Luis Rubiales has from the beginning of his speech also asked “forgiveness to the queen” Letizia for his gesture on the balcony of the Sydney stadium, when he had grabbed his genitals, while he was less than two meters from Queen Letizia and the Infanta Sofía.
“A totally spontaneous mutual gesture”
“What we saw today at the Assembly of the Federation is unacceptable (…). It is over with impunity for macho acts. Rubiales cannot remain in his post”, reacted immediately Yolanda Diaz on X, formerly Twitter, demanding “urgent action” from the government.
Lo que hemos visto hoy en la Asamblea de la Federación is unacceptable. El Gobierno debe actuar y tomar medidas urgentes: se acabó la impunidad para las acciones machistas. Rubiales no puede seguir en el cargo.
— Yolanda Diaz (@Yolanda_Diaz_) August 25, 2023
The meeting of the Federation, which many professional clubs and certain regional federations, including the Basque federation, did not attend, had been convened “in an emergency” on Tuesday, while the condemnations against the gesture of Luis Rubiales multiplied. Everyone expected Luis Rubiales to present his resignation there, as most of the national media had announced on Thursday evening.
Faced with the magnitude of the first reactions, the Spanish federation had transmitted to the press in the evening statements by Jenni Hermoso according to which it was “a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that the victory brings in World Cup”.
The case went all the way to Fifa
For his part, Luis Rubiales had swept aside the controversy, believing that those who criticized him were “idiots”. But a few hours later, he apologized, explaining that it was a gesture “without any bad intention”, adding “if people were hurt, I must apologize, there is nothing else to do”. But Spanish politicians, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and football authorities have in turn condemned this attitude.
The case finally went up to Fifa – yet known for its neutrality in matters of society – which launched Thursday a disciplinary procedure against Luis Rubiales. For her part, Jennifer Hermoso had asked Tuesday evening for “exemplary measures” through her union.