“Embarrassing” soccer boss
Sexual assault is followed by a declaration of war instead of resignation
08/25/2023, 1:08 p.m
Luis Rubiales triggered a storm of indignation with the kiss of a soccer world champion. A few days after the incident, the resignation of the president of the Spanish association is expected. But Rubiales doesn’t even think about it. The Spaniard pathetically announces a fight.
The Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales has refused to resign after the sexual assault with his kiss by Jennifer Hermoso at the World Cup. “I will not resign. I will fight to the end,” said the 46-year-old at an extraordinary general assembly of the Spanish federation RFEF. He sees himself as a victim. “This is not about justice, but about a social execution,” Rubiales said. He has been playing “football since I was three years old. My other passion besides football is my country. When I make mistakes, it hurts me too and I ask for forgiveness, without embellishment.”
The official kissed the player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth without being asked at the award ceremony for the Spanish soccer world champions in Australia on Sunday. Shortly thereafter, Hermoso said in a video that she was uncomfortable with the kiss. “But what should I do,” she added. Then there was sharp criticism and outrage.
Rubiales can’t understand that: “False feminism isn’t looking for the truth, it’s trying to wear a medal and believe that we’re making progress. They don’t care about the people,” he said, lamenting a hunt. “By mutual consent, should a kiss get me out of here? I’ll fight to the end.”
Reactions to Rubiales’ speech were not long in coming: world champion Iker Casillas was the first to speak out against Rubiales. The legendary former Spain captain called Rubiales’ speech “embarrassing”. Even before the speech, Isco Alarcón was the first professional footballer to speak out against Rubiales’ kiss with Jenni Hermoso: “If it wasn’t agreed, it’s an abuse of power”. National goalkeeper David De Gea also spoke up: “My ears are bleeding”.
FIFA is investigating
The world association FIFA had initiated disciplinary proceedings. “FIFA reaffirms its unconditional commitment to respecting the integrity of all individuals and therefore strongly condemns any behavior to the contrary,” the organization said on Thursday. The Disciplinary Committee is examining a violation of Article 13 of its own regulations, which is headed “Offending behavior and violations of the principles of fair play”. Rubiales is also Vice-President of the European Football Union UEFA.
Previously, various Spanish media had spread that Rubiales would probably resign. He informed his team that he would make his decision public on Friday, wrote the sports newspapers “Marca”, “Mundo Deportivo”, “AS”, “Sport” and other media unanimously. The radio station Cadena Ser, on the other hand, announced that Rubiales would receive “massive support” from the association at the general assembly. Rubiales announced that he would now be retiring for a few days.
“Then the government will act”
However, it is questionable whether the matter is over for him, at least for the time being: the Spanish government had also put pressure on him. “Of course we’re waiting for something to happen. If that’s not the case, the government will act,” said Presidential Minister Félix Bolaños. “What we have seen is unacceptable,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
US star Megan Rapinoe saw “a deep level of misogyny and sexism in this association and in this man” in the incident. The 38-year-old said in an interview to the portal “The Athletic”: “What kind of upside-down world do we actually live in? On the biggest stage where you should celebrate, Jenni (Hermoso) has to be physically attacked by this guy.”