Top players say ‘unacceptable’ after Spain’s football chief refuses to quit over kiss

However, far from resigning, he said the pressure he had received this week from politicians and clubs was an attempt ‘to publicly assassinate me’ and that he would defend himself by ‘taking action’ against those people.

The RFEF chief claimed his kiss on Jenni Hermoso’s lips was consensual and done in the same spirit as kissing his child. (A statement from Hermoso can be seen below).

‘It was a spontaneous kiss, mutual, euphoric, and consensual,’ said Rubiales. He also said he would be taking legal action against politicians who had used the terms of ‘sexual violence’, ‘without consent’ and ‘assault’ regarding the kiss (see Tweet and video report below via ElDiario.es).

The president did apologise for grabbing his testicles during the celebrations of the 1-0 win against England in the final, while standing near to Spanish Queen Letizia.

‘I want to say sorry for the deeds that happened in a moment of euphoria, I grabbed that part of my body and did so looking at Jorge Vilda (the coach),’ Rubiales said. ‘I was so emotional, I lost control and I took my hands there.’

Rubiales also said he had started the process of offering controversial coach Jorge Vilda a new deal on a €500,000 increase in salary and four year extension to his contract.

Spain arrived at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand shrouded in controversy, after 15 players refused to play because of disagreements with the federation and Vilda, although some relented and three formed part of the winning squad.

Rubiales’ defiant stance has also prompted fresh calls for the Spanish government to take action, while world players’ union FIFPRO said UEFA – for whom Rubiales is an executive committee member and vice-president – must open disciplinary proceedings.

FIFPRO said it had written to UEFA, saying: ‘Any lack of action by authorities in addressing the conduct of Mr Rubiales would send an entirely unacceptable and damaging message to the football industry and wider society.’

European football’s governing body has yet to issue any comment on the case.

Rubiales’ refusal to resign was ‘unacceptable’, Spain’s second deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz also said on Friday. ‘The government must act and take urgent measures: impunity for macho actions is over. Rubiales cannot continue in office,’ she reiterated.

Díaz will be meeting on Monday 28 August with the president of the main Spanish women’s soccer union, FUTPRO, and a delegation from her work team.

Statement from Jenni Hermoso

Please note that for Jenni Hermoso’s personal statement, you can find it within this report: FIFA provisionally suspends Rubiales, as RFEF threatens to sue protesting female players.

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Jennifer Hermoso has issued a statement calling for ‘exemplary measures’ for Luis Rubiales. She has done so through the FUTPRO union and her representation agency. This is the statement:

‘My union FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency TMJ are taking care of defending my interests and being the interlocutors on this matter. From FUTPRO we express our firm and resounding condemnation of conduct that violates the dignity of women.

‘From our association we ask the Royal Spanish Football Federation to implement the necessary protocols, ensure the rights of our players and adopt exemplary measures. It is essential that our national team, current world champion, is always represented by figures that project values of equality and respect in all areas. It is necessary to continue to advance in the fight for equality, a fight that our female players have led with determination, bringing us to the position we are in today. We also call on the Consejo Superior de Deportes to support and actively promote prevention and intervention against sexual harassment or abuse, machismo and sexism, within its competences.’

In an Instagram live stream of the celebrations in the dressing rooms after the World Cup Final, Hermoso was seen apparently making her distaste known about the kiss, responding, ‘Hey, but I didn’t like that!’ when shown a video clip of it – although she was laughing as she spoke. 

Later, the media cited comments supposedly made by Hermosa yet passed to them by the Spanish Football Federation.

‘It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings,’ she reportedly said. ‘The president and I have a great relationship, his behaviour with all of us has been outstanding and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.’ These comments have not been confirmed as being made by Hermosa.

ALSO READ: Calls for Spain’s football chief to resign after kissing player on lips.

🚨 Las jugadoras de la @SEFutbolFem, campeonas del mundo y otras futbolistas, en apoyo a @Jennihermoso , manifiestan su firme condena ante conductas que han atentado contra la dignidad de las mujeres.
El comunicado queda abierto a las futbolistas que se quieran adherir#seacabo pic.twitter.com/PW91SW9Ts0

— FUTPRO (@futpro_es) August 25, 2023

Esto es inaceptable. Se acabó. Contigo compañera @Jennihermoso

— Alexia Putellas (@alexiaputellas) August 25, 2023