The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Tuesday 5 September apologized to the world of football and society at large for the behavior of Luis Rubiales, who was suspended by the International Football Federation (FIFA) after he surprise player Jennifer Hermoso with a kiss on the mouth.
“Spanish society is an example of tolerance and civility, in all social and political spheres (…); and this nobility and international prestige of our society and our sport have been tainted in recent days by the behavior of Luis Rubiales, regrets Pedro Rocha, the interim president of the RFEF in a press release. We must offer our most sincere apologies and we must make a firm and absolute commitment that such events can never happen again. »
On Monday, the players of the Spanish men’s football team also showed their solidarity with the women’s team, castigating the “unacceptable behavior” of Mr. Rubiales. Pushed from all sides to resign because of his gesture, the latter had announced that he would remain in office during a sensational speech, during which he had declared that he was not going to leave “because of a small consented kiss”, and denounced a lawsuit brought by a “false feminism”.
Ongoing proceedings
This speech on August 25 was applauded by almost the entire RFEF general assembly, including the coaches of the women’s and men’s teams. The latter, Luis de la Fuente, then apologized for having applauded. The same evening, the twenty-three players of the women’s Roja, crowned world champions on August 20, announced that they refused to be called up for selection as long as there was no change at the head of the team. federation.
FIFA, which opened a disciplinary investigation against Luis Rubiales, suspended him the next day for ninety days “from any football-related activity at national and international level” pending the progress of proceedings in course. A procedure is also underway in Spain, with the Administrative Court of Sport, to which the government has written to demand the provisional suspension of Rubiales.
