2023-08-25 13:53:59
Soccer – also those who make a living from it – so many times locked up in its monetary prudence, had not shown a special determination in the face of the acts committed by Luis Rubiales during the celebration of the last Women’s World Cup. He has had to be a footballer especially committed to social causes like Borja Iglesias, the first to say enough is enough. This Friday, after the humiliating press conference given by the president of the Federation, the Betis striker announced his resignation from the national team.
“Wearing the shirt of the Spanish national team is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my career. I don’t know if at some point I will be an option again, but I have made the decision not to return to the national team until things change and These types of acts do not go unpunished,” announced Borja Iglesias on his social networks.
Wearing the Spanish National Team shirt is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my career. I don’t know if at some point I will be an option again, but I have made the decision not to return to the National Team until things change and this type of act does not go unpunished.
— Borja Iglesias (@BorjaIglesias9) August 25, 2023
“I am sad and disappointed. As a footballer and as a person I do not feel represented by what has happened in the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas. I find it unfortunate that they continue to press and focus on a colleague (…). For a fairer, more humane and decent football”, settled Borja Iglesias, who has two caps in his sports career.
To date, only a couple of First Division footballers had spoken before Rubiales’ kiss to the player Jenni Hermoso. All of them from Real Betis. Like Isco Alarcón – “if it was not consented to, I think it is an abuse of power” -, declared the former Real Madrid player; or Aitor Ruibal, who, together with Borja Iglesias, was vilified with homophobic insults for having posed with a bag next to the striker. Ruibal, also through his social networks, was pleased to position himself: “Perhaps out of prudence, he had not said anything before, but I think I have the right to support Jenni on this matter.. I appreciate your courage in taking the necessary steps to prevent this from happening in the future and contribute to a more just society from here on out.”
Bellerín: “It’s a real shame”
Of course, Héctor Bellerín also raised his voice against Rubiales: “What is happening is truly shameful. Representing our country with that vulgarity, misrepresenting the victim’s statements and on top of that having the courage to blame her, going on to victimize herself for having committed an abuse, they are facts for which no one can go unpunished. Soccer is a social tool to advance and progress, machismo should have no place within this system”. And he unceremoniously attacked the president of the Federation: “The narcissist never believes he has made a mistake, he is capable of lying, manipulating the truth and making the victim guilty. in order to maintain his power over others”.
Besides, Rafael del Amo, not only president of the Navarra Federation, but also of the Women’s Football Technical Committee, announced his resignation this Friday. “What happened in the box at the World Cup final and his statements afterwards are unacceptable,” he declared on Spanish Television. And he added: “[Rubiales] You’ve crossed a line that you shouldn’t as president.”
Consequences of resignation
Borja Iglesias, after his announcement that he does not want to be part of the Spanish team while the same power structure continues, could, however, be exposed to sanctions under current legislation. In any case, the national coach, Luis de la Fuentes, applying the same criteria as Jorge Vilda in the women’s team in the case of ’15’, would limit himself to not recruiting him.
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FIFA, in any case, forces footballers to go to their national teams. It is also a requirement marked by the Sports Law, whose article 47 is clear: “It is the obligation of federated athletes to attend the calls of the national sports teams for participation in competitions of an international nature, or for the preparation thereof.”
In fact, different categories of sanctions of an economic nature are established, including the “temporary or permanent disqualification or deprivation of the federative license” applying article 79 as a “very serious” offence.
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