Spanish soccer boss says he won’t quit over kissing player – National | 24CA News
Spanish soccer boss Luis Rubiales refused to stop on Friday for kissing star participant Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory, fueling anger amongst gamers and authorities ministers who decried his actions as unacceptable macho conduct.
The authorities can’t sack Rubiales, who’s head of the unbiased Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). But it would search to droop him utilizing a authorized process earlier than a sports activities tribunal, the pinnacle of the state-run sports activities council, Victor Francos, informed reporters.
“We want all this to be a ‘Me Too’ of Spanish soccer,” Francos stated.
Rubiales had been broadly anticipated to face down at an emergency assembly of the federation on Friday, however as an alternative he stated he refused to be compelled out and complained that “false feminists” had been “trying to kill me.”
He known as the kiss a “little peck” that was “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual.”
“Is a consensual peck going to take me out of here? I won’t resign. I will fight until the end,” stated Rubiales, 46, drawing applause from the predominantly male viewers.
Criticism of Rubiales’ conduct has constructed all through the week. The incident occurred whereas the gamers had been being handed their medals after they beat England 1-0 within the World Cup remaining in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday.
As gamers filed previous, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the pinnacle and planted a kiss on her mouth.
Acting Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz known as his speech on Friday “unacceptable,” writing on social media: “The government must act and take urgent measures: impunity for macho actions is over. Rubiales cannot continue in office.”
Acting Equality Minister Irene Montero stated the state prosecutor and the sports activities council CSD ought to act to guard Hermoso.
FIFA opened disciplinary procedures towards Rubiales on Thursday after Hermoso stated in a press release her union was working to defend her pursuits and that such acts ought to “never go unpunished.”
‘ATTACKING FEMINISM’
Rubiales’ feedback on Friday and the applause he obtained on the occasion had been broadly scorned on social media.
In a publish on X that generated hundreds of likes, journalist Javier Gallego Crudo described the assembly as “an assembly where a man, cornered by his own misogynist actions, ends up attacking feminism… blames the woman and is applauded by other men. No better illustration of patriarchy.”
The authorities stated it had began a continuing to take Sunday’s incident earlier than a sports activities tribunal. If it may be confirmed that the kiss was non-consensual, Rubiales could possibly be tried beneath a sexual violence legislation launched by the ruling Socialists final yr.
The courtroom has seven members, appointed by the state-run CSD, three of them ladies. The CSD can droop Rubiales through the investigation if the courtroom agrees, Francos stated.
Gender points have turn into a outstanding subject in Spain in recent times. Tens of hundreds of girls have taken half in road marches protesting sexual abuse and violence.
The Socialist-led coalition authorities has presided over a raft of authorized reforms, together with round equal pay, abortion, intercourse work and transgender rights.
Rubiales stated in his speech that it was Hermoso who initiated bodily contact by lifting him off the bottom by his hips. He stated he requested Hermoso if he may give her “a little peck” and she or he stated “OK.”
Full footage of the medal awards ceremony was not broadcast on Spanish tv.
“This is unacceptable. It´s over. We’re with you, teammate Jenni Hermoso,” her teammate Alexia Putellas stated on X after Friday’s federation assembly.
Some male gamers additionally protested.
Borja Iglesias of Real Betis, who final performed for Spain in 2022, stated on X he wouldn’t put himself ahead for choice for the nationwide crew “until things change and these kinds of acts don’t remain unpunished.”
At the occasion on Sunday, Rubiales was additionally seen grabbing his crotch in celebration whereas standing subsequent to Queen Letizia in a field on the stadium, for which he apologized on Friday.
The soccer gamers union FIFPro stated in a press release it had written to UEFA, the place Rubiales is vice chairman, requesting that it begin disciplinary proceedings. UEFA declined to remark.
“I am embarrassed by the shame that it continues to be for Spanish football to have a president of the (RFEF) who continues to cling to office,” FIFPro President David Aganzo stated.
Three members of the RFEF interviewed by Reuters as they left Friday’s assembly, who declined to offer their names, stated they felt the problem was overblown, a sentiment they stated was shared by many of the members current. Only about half of the membership was current.
Rubiales met with key federation members shortly earlier than the meeting and informed them about his plans to not resign, in accordance with a federation supply.
The solely one who objected was Rafael del Amo, president of the nationwide committee for ladies’s soccer, who stated he would step down from his roles, which additionally included the vice presidency of the federation.
