2023-08-24 22:52:53
On an ejection seat since he forcibly kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth after Spain’s victory at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday, the big boss of Spanish football, Luis Rubiales, took everyone on the wrong foot Friday, August 25 by refusing to resign and counterattacking.
“I will not quit! I will not quit! »launched Luis Rubiales in a combat speech before the extraordinary general assembly of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) gathered near Madrid, to which some 140 people were summoned.
Luis Rubiales, who has been in office since 2018, denounced the “false feminism” Who “don’t seek the truth” and castigated a « social assassination attempt » during this speech of about half an hour. He certainly presented his « excuses »but not for the kiss, which was according to him ” spontaneous “, “reciprocal” et “consented”but for “the context in which it occurred”.
A “consensual” kiss
Attacking several ministers and personalities of the Spanish left who had castigated his gesture from the first hours and spoke of “sexual violence without consent”he said he was going ” to defend oneself “ against “these people who try to assassinate (him) publicly”. “My God, what are women who have really been sexually assaulted going to think? »he still launched.
In Spain, kissing someone without their consent is considered sexual assault and is a criminal offence. 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.
Resignation required
Himself the father of three daughters, Luis Rubiales, from the start of his speech, asked “pardon the queen” Letizia for her gesture on the balcony of Sydney Stadium, when he grabbed her genitals, when he was less than two meters from the Queen and the Infanta Sofía.
“What we saw today at the Assembly of the Federation is unacceptable (…) It is the end of impunity for macho acts. Rubiales cannot stay in his post.reacted immediately Yolanda Díaz on X, formerly Twitter, demanding “urgent measures” of the government.
” This is unacceptable. Let’s get it over with. I am with you dear Jenni Hermoso”FC Barcelona footballer Alexia Putellas, Ballon d’Or, also said on X.
The affair broke out when Spain is a candidate, with Portugal and Morocco, for the organization of the Men’s World Cup in 2030, which will be awarded at the end of next year. Luis Rubiales’ situation looked hopeless after he was filmed celebrating the victory of the « Roja » woman over England in the World Cup final, kissing Jenni Hermoso on the mouth in surprise.
Public condemnations
Faced with the magnitude of the first reactions, the Spanish federation had transmitted in the evening to the press declarations by Jenni Hermoso according to which it was a question of“a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that comes from winning the World Cup”.
For his part, Luis Rubiales apologized on Monday, explaining that it was a gesture “without any bad intention”. But the condemnations of the Spanish political class, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and football circles, including the famous American player Megan Rapinoe, have only increased.
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. LaLiga president Javier Tebas, who has so far remained silent, harshly attacked his nemesis Luis Rubiales on Friday. “The list of women and men offended in recent years by Luis Rubiales is too long, it must stop”he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The case could go to court
Jennifer Hermoso had asked on Tuesday night “exemplary measures” through his union. On the same day, the Spanish Professional Women’s Football League demanded the dismissal of Luis Rubiales, castigating a moment of “unprecedented international disgrace for the ‘Spain brand’, for Spanish sport and for world women’s football”.
The case could therefore go to court, since Victor Francos, the president of the High Council for Sports, a government body, had promised that the Council would take action if the RFEF did not. He had notably indicated that he would bring the case before the Administrative Court of Sports, a Spanish court.
He announced that he would give a press conference on Friday at 5 p.m. local time. In addition, the Spanish prosecutor’s office indicated that it had received four complaints against Luis Rubiales, but these were not filed by the victims themselves, there is a doubt about their admissibility.
#Spanish #football #boss #Luis #Rubiales #clings #post