COACHING IS ABUSE
The 2023 Women's World Cup winners and other notable figures in Spanish football won't represent their country again until disgraced federation president Luis Rubiales steps down.
Rubiales offered a spirited refusal to resign during Friday's emergency meeting of Spain's football federation. The 46-year-old faces widespread calls to leave his post after planting an unsolicited kiss on star player Jenni Hermoso when Spain players celebrated their World Cup final win over England on Aug. 20.
Hours after Rubiales' vow to "fight" to remain in his position, footballers' union FUTPRO released a statement featuring over 80 signatures from female players, including the full squad that competed at the World Cup. The statement asks for "real changes, both sporting and structural, that help the national team to continue growing in order to continue this great success to later generations," according to a translation by DAZN's Alex Ibaceta.
"After everything that happened during the World Cup award ceremony, we want to state that every player that has signed this statement will not go back to the national team under the current leaders."
The statement also includes a brief response from Hermoso following Rubiales' claims that she lifted him and brought him "close to her body" before accepting the football chief's request for a kiss. She denied this version of events before offering greater detail on the incident and subsequent fallout in a personal statement released on X (formerly Twitter). In the larger statement, she claimed the federation pressured her to justify Rubiales' actions in a "testimony that had little or nothing to do with my feelings."
"It is not up to me to evaluate communication and integrity practices," she added, "but I am sure that as the world champion, we as a team do not deserve such a manipulative, hostile, and controlling culture."
Hermoso stressed that the "manipulative culture" affecting the Spain women's team was generated by Rubiales.
The attacker, 33, also described her feelings after the kiss, saying, "I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out-of-place act without any consent on my part."
FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales on Thursday over the kiss. Spain's secretary of sport Victor Francos said the government will "initiate proceedings" for him to explain his actions before Spain's administrative court, describing the scandal as "the Me Too of Spanish football."
Although Rubiales defended his kiss and described the pressure to for him to depart as federation president as an attempt "to publicly assassinate me," he did apologize Friday for grabbing his crotch with Spain's Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter Princess Sofia standing nearby.
"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 (the Spain women's team head coach) Jorge Vilda," he said about his celebrations after the World Cup triumph.
"Of course I have to apologize, to the Queen ... and to everyone else who has felt offended."
Vilda, who was among those who applauded Rubiales' address at Friday's federation meeting, is also under scrutiny for appearing to touch the chest area of a female member of his coaching staff during the World Cup final. The controversy follows his refusal to step down in September 2022 after 15 international players staged a mutiny, declaring Vilda's methods and group management had negatively impacted their "emotional state" and their "health," according to The Guardian's Sid Lowe.
Only three of those 15 players - Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmati, and Mariona Caldentey - returned to the Spain squad for this summer's victorious World Cup campaign.
Amid row over leadership, Spain's football federation threatens legal action against female players
More than 80 of Spain’s top players said they refuse to play under current management in wake of refusal by federation president refusal to step down
Alyssa McMurtry |26.08.2023
OVIEDO, Spain
What started as a shining victory for Spain’s women’s team in the World Cup has turned into a bitter clash, with Spain’s football federation now threatening legal action against female players.
On Friday, 81 top female players, including the current national team, released a statement through the union Futpro saying they refuse to play for Spain under the current leadership.
The move came after a bombshell speech by the federation’s president, Luis Rubiales. Instead of resigning for kissing player Jennifer Hermoso, as was expected, Rubiales painted himself as a victim of a witch hunt, complained of the “scourge” of “false feminism,” insisted the kiss was mutual, and shouted repeatedly that he would not quit.
Responding to the female players' strike, the federation said that “playing for the national team is an obligation for any member of the federation if they are called upon to do so,” accusing the female players of lying about what happened and threatening legal action.
On Friday night, Hermoso broke her silence, saying Rubiales’ version of the post-World Cup victory kiss was “categorically false and part of the manipulative culture that he himself has generated.”
“I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out-of-place act without any consent on my part. Simply put I was not respected,” she wrote, adding that she, her family and teammates had been pressured by the federation to justify Rubiales’ actions.
“As the World Cup Champion, we as a team do not deserve such a manipulative, hostile, and controlling culture,” she added.
At the same time, the federation released photos showing a celebratory hug between Hermoso and Rubiales, calling it “conclusive evidence” that the federation head “did not lie,” insinuating that the player instead instigated the kiss with her boss.
Although Rubiales refuses to quit, Spain’s government has filed a complaint with the Spanish Sports Council to have him suspended, but the legal move is not guaranteed to work.
“As far as we can do anything about it, these are Rubiales’ last hours,” Spain’s Sports Minister Miquel Iceta told El Pais on Saturday, expressing concern that the federation is damaging Spain’s reputation.
Iceta said this is a “Me Too” moment for Spanish football, referring to the worldwide movement against sexual abuse, harassment, and rape that made headlines starting in 2017.
“This has become a test of our collective capacity and the structures of sport to embrace equality between men and women… sometimes an accident provokes a reaction that ends up strengthening the values we want to defend,” he added.
The federation could also be hit financially. Some of the body's main sponsors, including Spanish companies Iberia, Iberdrola, and Renfre, have criticized the federation's position and called for measures to "preserve the dignity" of players.
Jenni Hermoso says 'in no moment' was kiss with Spanish soccer president consensual
Spain players say they will not play any more games until Luis Rubiales steps down
Less than a week after winning the Women's World Cup, Spain's national team players announced Friday that they will not play any more games unless the president of the country's soccer federation steps down for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after their victory.
Luis Rubiales, who was also chastised for grabbing his crotch after Spain's 1-0 victory over England on Sunday, remained defiant despite immense pressure to resign. The kiss marred the title celebrations in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday, and criticism has steadily mounted.
Hermoso issued a statement Friday strongly rebuking Rubiales' characterization of the kiss as consensual, saying that 'in no moment' did she consent to the kiss, while the 46-year-old federation president cast himself as the victim at an emergency meeting of the federation in Madrid.
"I won't resign," he declared four times in quick succession, to applause from the overwhelmingly male audience.
Several Spanish news media outlets reported on Thursday that Rubiales would step down. Instead, he said on Friday that he is the victim of a witch hunt by "false feminists."
While Rubiales held his ground, federation vice president Rafael del Amo, who had been in charge of women's soccer, announced that he was resigning, followed by at least two other federation members. Del Amo had urged Rubiales to also resign.
Among those applauding Rubiales were women's national team coach Jorge Vilda and men's national team coach Luis de la Fuente. Until Friday's assembly, he had received no public support in Spain, with political parties from both the left and the right speaking out against him.
WATCH | Spain women's soccer team won't play until Rubiales resigns:
Rubiales' version
In his speech to the assembly, Rubiales said Hermoso "lifted me up" in a celebratory gesture and he asked her for "a little kiss?" and she "said yes."
The televised broadcast of the medals ceremony didn't show the first moments when Rubiales congratulated Hermoso. But it does show that his feet were on the ground before he held her face and kissed her.
Hermoso contradicted Rubiales' version in two statements, one issued through her FUTRPO players union and a second published on social media.
She said that she did not consent to the kiss or try to pick up the president, and that there was no conversation like the one described by Rubiales.
"I won't tolerate anyone doubting my word and even less someone putting words in my mouth," she said.
In a second statement, Hermoso said the kiss "left me in a state of shock."
"I believe that no person in any workplace should be the victim of this type of nonconsensual behaviour," she added.
Hermoso also accused the federation of pressuring her and her family to speak out in Rubiales' defence. The federation previously denied a report that it forced her to make a statement downplaying the kiss shortly after it happened.
After a full day of accusations and counteraccusations between Hermoso and Rubiales, the federation issued a statement early Saturday saying that its president did not lie and that he and the organization would take legal action against Hermoso and her union. The statement included photos that it said show Hermoso lifting Rubiales off the ground during the medals ceremony.
'This is unacceptable'
The FUTPRO statement signed by Hermoso, her 22 teammates, and more than 50 other Spanish players said they would no longer play for Spain "if the present leadership remains in charge."
Rubiales said he would defend his honour in court against politicians, including two ministers, who called his kiss an act of sexual violence. One of them was acting Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz, who urged the government to take "urgent measures."
"Impunity for macho actions is over," Diaz said. "Rubiales cannot continue in office."
Alexia Putellas, Hermoso's teammate and a two-time Ballon d'Or winner as the best player in the world, posted a message of support on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"This is unacceptable," the Barcelona player wrote. "I'm with you, my teammate, Jenni Hermoso."
WATCH | Spain captures Women's World Cup title:
Other teammates quickly followed, along with players from abroad.
"I'm disgusted by the public actions of Luis Rubiales," U.S. soccer star Alex Morgan said on X. She added that winning a World Cup "should be one of the best moments in these players' lives but instead it's overshadowed by assault, misogyny, and failures by the Spanish federation."
The president of Spain's women's league, Beatriz Alvarez, told Spanish state broadcaster RTVE that she was not surprised because Rubiales' "ego is above his dignity."
"What surprises and scandalizes me are his words," Alvarez said. "Every time he speaks he shows what kind of person he really is."
Spain's government plans to file lawsuit
Spain's government planned to file a lawsuit Friday alleging that Rubiales violated the country's sports laws, according to Victor Francos, secretary of state for sports and head of Spain's Higher Council for Sports. If Spain's Administrative Court for Sports agrees to hear the suit, the council will suspend Rubiales temporarily pending the court's ruling, Francos said.
If found guilty by the court for committing sexist acts, Rubiales could be ruled unfit to hold office. Francos said he would ask the court to move its regular Thursday meeting up to Monday.
Around 100 people, mostly women, gathered Friday night in front of the Spanish soccer federation's headquarters in Madrid to call for Rubiales' resignation, many waving red cards used by soccer referees to expel players from games.
"What has to happen now is his resignation and the resignation of everyone who applauded him," said 39-year-old protester Alma Dona. "The federation needs to be reformed and women's football should have more support."
Spanish soccer club Barcelona, which provided nine players for Spain's team, said Rubiales' behavior "was completely inappropriate." Real Madrid said it supported the government's decision to try to suspend Rubiales. Sevilla called for his resignation. Athletic Bilbao said it was renouncing its seat on the federation's board and backed the government's decisions. Osasuna slammed Rubiales, calling him "rude and sexist." Espanyol, Valencia, and Celta Vigo also issued statements against Rubiales, as did Spanish league president Javier Tebas.
FIFA gives no timetable for ruling
FIFA, the governing body of soccer, opened a disciplinary case against Rubiales on Thursday. Disciplinary judges can impose sanctions on individuals ranging from warnings and fines to suspensions from the sport. FIFA gave no timetable for the ruling.
The only relevant institution to remain silent has been European soccer body UEFA, for which Rubiales is a vice president. FIFPRO urged UEFA to open its own disciplinary case.
Rubiales, who led the Spanish players union for eight years before taking over as federation president in 2018, is currently heading the UEFA-backed bid to host the men's World Cup in 2030. Spain is bidding with neighbouring Portugal and Morocco, and also possibly Ukraine.
Rubiales made 339,000 euros ($365,000 US) in 2021 after taxes, for presiding over the federation with a budget of 382 million euros ($412 million). The federation runs Spain's men's and women's national soccer teams and its semi-professional and amateur soccer leagues. It also organizes the referees for La Liga. The government maintains some oversight of the entity but it cannot name or remove its executives.
Shortly before the kiss, Rubiales grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture, with Queen Letizia of Spain and 16-year old Princess Sofia standing nearby.
He offered an apology for that, saying it was in a moment of "euphoria" and directed toward Vilda on the field.
The first members of the elite in Spanish men's soccer spoke out against Rubiales on Thursday, when it looked like he was bowing out. Their words of reproach continued to trickle in after Rubiales' diatribe on Friday.
"What an embarrassment," former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas said on X. "We should have spent the last five days talking about our women players, about the joy they gave us all! About how proud we are that they gave us a title that we didn't have in women's soccer, instead..."
Real Betis forward Borja Iglesias, who has occasionally been called up for Spain's national team, said he would not play for his country again "until things change."
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