Apologies, attacks, but no resignation. Luis Rubiales will not resign from the presidency of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), he announced before the extraordinary general assembly of the latter on Friday August 25. In his speech, Mr. Rubiales said, “Is it bad enough for me to leave? I will not quit. This last sentence, pronounced five times in a row, was punctuated with applause. His decision takes a backseat to Spain, which the press believed the 46-year-old would quit.
Mr. Rubiales apologized, but not for the kiss, which he said was “spontaneous”, “reciprocal” and “consensual”, but for “the context in which it occurred”. The Spanish football boss also denounced “false feminism” which “does not seek the truth”, castigating an “attempt at social assassination”. Attacking several Spanish ministers and left-wing figures who had criticized his gesture and spoken of “sexual violence without consent”, he claimed that he would “defend himself” against “those people who are trying to murder me publicly”. . “My God, what are women who have actually been sexually assaulted going to think? “, he still launched.
In Spain, kissing someone without their consent is considered an offense under the law on sexual assault.
“Rubiales cannot stay in his post”
“What we saw today at the federation assembly is unacceptable (…). It is the end of impunity for macho acts. Rubiales cannot stay in his post, “reacted Yolanda Diaz, Minister of Labor and number 3 of the government, on X (ex-Twitter), demanding “urgent measures” from it. “The list of women and men offended in recent years by Luis Rubiales is too long, it must stop,” wrote Javier Tebas, president of the first two Spanish football divisions, on the same social network.
Mr. Rubiales has been at the center of a controversy since he was filmed, celebrating the victory of the women’s Roja over England in the final of the World Cup, catching with both hands the head of Jennifer Hermoso then to kiss him by surprise on the mouth. Remained silent for several days – despite the expressed disapproval of this gesture – Ms. Hermoso ended up on Wednesday by asking for “exemplary measures” through her union.
According to lawyers, the gesture of Luis Rubiales is considered a sexual assault. Football federation protocol states that forcibly kissing someone is a serious offense that can lead to suspension or resignation.
Excuses that did not convince
At first, he brushed off the controversy, saying those who criticized him were “idiots”. But a few hours later he apologized, explaining that it was a gesture “without any bad intention” and adding: “If people were hurt, I have to apologize, there is nothing else to do. »
His apologies did not extinguish the conflagration: Spanish politicians and football authorities had condemned this attitude in turn, up to the Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, who considered that “[Luis Rubiales’] apologies are insufficient and “inappropriate”. The indignation was not limited to Spain since the American Megan Rapinoe, one of the most famous footballers in the world, or even Amnesty International, criticized the president of the RFEF and called for his resignation.
FIFA finally launched a disciplinary procedure
The case went up to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), which ended up launching disciplinary proceedings against Luis Rubiales. In the meantime, other images have come to aggravate the now former president of the RFEF, in particular those where we see him, again on Sunday, on the balcony of honor of the stadium, grabbing his genitals to celebrate the victory a few meters from the queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia. Gesture for which he asked forgiveness.
The forced kiss of the president of the Federation is part of a heavy context within the Spanish selection. Players have been denouncing for months the methods deemed “dictatorial” by coach Jorge Vilda, who enjoyed the unwavering support of Mr. Rubiales. The former president of the federation was also accused of having organized orgies with the money of the RFEF last September.