JOSEPH WILSON
Updated Sun, August 27, 2023
Germany Soccer Bundesliga
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — One week after the president of the Spanish soccer federation kissed a player during the Women’s World Cup awards ceremony, his reputation is in tatters and he's out of his job.
Luis Rubiales, whose leadership of Spanish soccer had already been marked by successes tinged with scandal, wrecked his career by offending millions worldwide with his conduct at the final in Sydney, Australia, when he also grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture.
“Rubiales cannot run Spanish soccer again,” Spanish minister María Jesús Montero said Sunday, a day after he was provisionally suspended by FIFA for 90 days.
“We had enough of him when he marred the great triumph of women’s soccer with his intolerable attitude.”
Rubiales was replaced by his vice president Pedro Rocha, who will act as interim chief in his absence. Rocha is considered to be a confidant of Rubiales. Rocha has called an emergency meeting of the soccer federation's regional heads to discuss the crisis on Monday, when women’s groups will rally in downtown Madrid in support of forward Jenni Hermoso, who was kissed on the lips by Rubiales after Spain's 1-0 win over England in the final.
FIFA moved against Rubiales after he refused to step down and defiantly told an emergency assembly of his federation on Friday that he was the victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists.”
On a day that will go down as one of the ugliest in Spanish soccer, Rubiales said that Hermoso had consented to the “mutual” kiss. Hermoso replied in two statements to say that was false and that she considered herself the victim of an abuse of power. She also accused the federation of trying to pressure her into supporting Rubiales. The federation hit back by saying she was lying and that it would take legal action against her.
As part of his suspension of Rubiales, FIFA disciplinary judge Jorge Palacio ordered Rubiales and the federation not to contact Hermoso.
Spain’s government is also pursuing his permanent removal in Spain’s Administrative Court for Sports. The court will meet in the coming week to consider the government’s lawsuit for an alleged abuse of power and for allegedly committing acts that tarnished the dignity and decorum of a sporting event. If found guilty, Rubiales could be ruled unfit to hold office.
Spain great Andrés Iniesta, a 2010 World Cup winner, said “after what has happened this week I would like to express my sadness, as a person, as a father of three girls, as a husband and as a soccer player.
“We have had to bear this president who clung to power, didn’t admit that his behavior had been unacceptable and was damaging the image of our country and our soccer before the world,” Iniesta said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Rubiales' behavior has tarnished not only the greatest feat of Spanish women’s soccer, it has also torn apart his federation.
The only public support Rubiales has received came during Friday’s general assembly when he was applauded several times by parts of the mostly male crowd, which was made up of regional federation officials, coaches, referees and players from lower divisions.
But his refusal to go quietly led to some resignations from his board, including the vice president in charge of women’s soccer. The federation will also keep open its own internal probe into the incident as part of its sexual violence protocol.
Those who applauded his diatribe included women’s coach Jorge Vilda — Hermoso's coach — and Spain’s men’s coach Luis de la Fuente. But once FIFA took down Rubiales, it took only hours for both coaches to issue statements sanctioning their now former boss.
Rubiales is a 46-year-old former player who headed a players’ union – which this week joined the chorus demanding his resignation – before he was elected to run the federation in 2018. He has not shied away from controversy since, but has shored up internal support by boosting revenues.
Rubiales made 339,000 euros ($365,000) 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. The government maintains some oversight of the entity but it cannot name or remove its executives.
Weeks after becoming the most powerful man in Spanish soccer, Rubiales showed he wouldn’t tolerate any act that he considered disloyal when he fired the coach of Spain’s men’s team just two days before its first match at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Julen Lopetegui had just agreed to join Real Madrid after the tournament, but Rubiales felt he had betrayed the national team and dismissed him.
Rubiales revolutionized the Spanish Super Cup in 2019 by expanding it from two to four teams and taking it to Saudi Arabia – now the big draw for top European talent like Cristiano Ronaldo – in exchange for 40 million dollars a year. The clubs and federation loved the cash, but the move was criticized by women’s and human rights groups for the regime’s treatment of women and minorities. Spanish authorities also scrutinized the deal, and an investigative judge is probing the legality of the Super Cup contracts.
In part, Rubiales was tolerated because he was considered better than his predecessor, Ángel Maria Villar, who was in power for nearly three decades before he ended up behind bars for widespread corruption.
Rubiales increased his hold on power by becoming a vice-president with UEFA, which has remained silent on the scandal. Rubiales was spearheading what promised to be his greatest prize: a joint bid to host the 2030 men’s World Cup with Portugal, Morocco and possibly Ukraine.
But it seems the greatest sporting achievement of Spanish soccer under his watch has led to his downfall – unless he can successfully fight against both FIFA and Spain’s government.
Not only were his actions deemed out of line, his erratic handling of the scandal — which swerved from insulting his critics, to an awkward apology, and eventually his tirade against feminism — did him in.
The response from Spanish society has been overwhelmingly supportive of Hermoso and against Rubiales.
Her Spain teammates, along with more than 50 others women players, said they would not play for Spain as long as he remains.
Messages in support of the player and condemning Rubiales have poured in from Spanish and foreign players, the most powerful soccer clubs – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, among others – and from political parties from the far left to the center right.
“Luis Rubiales is finished,” the president of Spain’s women’s league, Beatriz Álvarez, told The Associated Press. “He has dug his own grave with his acts and his words.”
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup
BBC
Sun, August 27, 2023
An internal investigation has been launched by Spain's football federation after its sexual violence protocol was activated.
Federation president Luis Rubiales has been suspended by Fifa after kissing forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain's Women's World Cup win.
Hermoso, 33, has said the kiss after last Sunday's game was not consensual.
Maria Dolores Martinez Madrona, the protocol's protection delegate, said the matter is now being investigated.
"Our protocol is currently activated and in the midst of investigating the events, thus we demand the utmost respect for the right to privacy and dignity of all individuals involved," she said in a letter published by the federation (RFEF).
"As the protection delegate for sexual violence, my duty is to adhere to the protocol and safeguard the privacy of those affected by this incident and of the Sexual Violence Advisory Committee."
Who is controversial Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales?
Rubiales kissing Hermoso unleashes social tsunami in Spain
The protocol is activated once a complaint is submitted and means the protection delegate, a position currently held by female referee Madrona, will investigate and send her findings to the Sexual Violence Advisory Committee.
The RFEF has also called regional federations to an "extraordinary and urgent" meeting on Monday "to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself".
When it announced it had suspended Rubiales on Saturday, Fifa ordered him, the RFEF and its officials or employees to not attempt to contact Hermoso, who the REFF had threatened with legal action earlier that day.
Despite widespread criticism and pressure to resign, 46-year-old Rubiales vowed to "fight until the end" while addressing an extraordinary general assembly called by the RFEF on Friday.
Victor Francos, Spain's secretary of sport and head of the state-run National Sports Council, then said the government had started legal proceedings seeking to suspend Rubiales, "so that he has to give explanations before the Sport Court (TAD)".
Spanish sports minister Miquel Iceta told newspaper El Pais: "We are going to ask the TAD to meet on Monday. If the TAD accepts the government's complaint, we will immediately proceed with the suspension of the functions of president."
How did the situation get to this point?
20 August - During the ceremony following the World Cup final, Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso is first embraced and then kissed on the lips by Luis Rubiales.
Hermoso later reacts to the kiss during a live stream and says she "did not enjoy" it.
21 August - Rubiales issues an apology saying he is "sorry for those who were offended" after being fiercely criticised by other footballers, the media and even by the Spanish prime minister, some of whom called on him to step down.
24 August - World football's governing body Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings to examine Rubiales' actions.
25 August - A defiant Rubiales insists at a RFEF emergency meeting that he will not resign, and calls the kiss "consensual".
25 August - The Spanish government says it is beginning legal proceedings seeking to suspend Rubiales, with the Spanish secretary of sport saying he "wants this to be Spanish football's MeToo moment".
25 August - Later that day, Hermoso releases a statement on Instagram rebuffing Rubiales' claims, saying that "at no time... was his kiss ever consensual".
25 August - 81 Spanish players - including all 23 players who went to the Women's World Cup - announce they will not play for Spain's women's team until Rubiales is removed from his position.
26 August - The Spanish football federation says it will take legal action over "each falsehood that is spread".
26 August - Fifa announces it is provisionally suspending Rubiales pending the outcome of its disciplinary proceedings.
26 August - World Cup-winning head coach Jorge Vilda criticises Rubiales while his entire coaching staff resigns in protest against the federation president.
27 August - Federation's delegate for sexual violence protocol confirms an internal investigation into events is under way.
Sat, 26 August 2023
Eleven members of the Spanish women's team coaching staff tendered their resignations on Saturday, expressing "their firm and categorical condemnation of Luis Rubiales' behaviour towards Jenni Hermoso".
Without his deputies, coach Jorge Vilda remains in place. However, he distanced himself from Rubiales on Saturday evening, "I regret that the victory of women's soccer has been tarnished by the inappropriate behaviour shown and acknowledged by our most senior manager up to that point, Luis Rubiales," he said in a statement picked up by several Spanish outlets.
The eleven staff members described the attitude of Rubiales as "unacceptable."
The international football body FIFA suspended Rubiales on Saturday from all football-related activity for 90 days pending inquiries, a decision that has won support from the Spanish government.
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"We totally respect FIFA’s decision," Spain's Secretary of State for Sport, Victor Francos told reporters. "It reinforces our government’s position regarding the path we have started in this case. It goes in agreement with the highest spheres of international football. It says that the path chosen by the Spanish government is the right one."
Rubiales faces inquiries by FIFA and the Spanish Football Federation but can only be forced out by a legal verdict.
On Friday, 81 Spanish players, including all 23 World champions, vowed to go on strike, refusing to play until Rubiales is removed.
FIFA Suspends Spanish Soccer Federation President Luis Rubiales For Unwanted Kiss
Bruce Haring
Sat, 26 August 2023
Kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup may cost Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales his job.
On Saturday, FIFA suspended Rubiales while its disciplinary committee investigates his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final. The move comes after Rubiales refused to resign, despite intense pressure from the Spanish government, women players, soccer clubs and officials.
Hermoso has said she did not consent to the kiss, which came during the team’s on-field celebration. The team’s players have said they will not play any more games as long as Rubiales is in charge.
FIFA said it removed Rubiales from soccer duties for 90 days “pending the disciplinary proceedings opened” against him Thursday.
The president of Spain’s women’s league, Beatriz Álvarez, told The Associated Press that she believed this was the end of Rubiales’ soccer career. The league filed one of several official complaints against Rubiales that Spain’s government received in the past week.
“Luis Rubiales is finished. He has dug his own grave with his acts and his words,” Álvarez said. “Whether it is because of the action of FIFA or the Spanish government, I am sure that Luis Rubiales won’t spend another minute as president of the Spanish federation.”
FIFA has given no timetable for a ruling. The body’s disciplinary judges can impose sanctions ranging from warnings and fines to suspensions from the sport.
Local media originally reported that Rubiales would announce his resignation to Friday’s general assembly of the federation. Instead, he dug in, painting himself as the victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists” and receiving applause from the mostly male crowd.
Hermoso responded that Rubiales was lying about the kiss being consensual and that she had felt intimidated.
Sevilla players pay 'It's Over' tribute to Hermoso in Rubiales battle
AFP
Sat, 26 August 2023
Sevilla players wore shirts paying tribute to Jenni Hermoso and the Spanish players' fight against the RFEF and Luis Rubiales
Sevilla players paid tribute to Spanish women's team star Jenni Hermoso and the country's other top female footballers ahead of their 2-1 defeat by Girona on Saturday in La Liga.
Hermoso, 33, was forcibly kissed on the lips by Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales at the Women's World Cup final medal ceremony on Sunday.
World football governing body FIFA suspended Rubiales on Saturday, while on Friday 81 Spain players including Hermoso said they would not play for the women's national team while the current "leadership" continued.
Sevilla players wore warm-up t-shirts with the phrase "It's Over" written on the front in Spanish, which several Spain women's players and Hermoso herself had used on Friday on social media and in statements, apparently referring to Rubiales' reign in Spain.
La Roja's World Cup final goalscoring hero Olga Carmona watched the match from the presidential box at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium, less than a week after she netted the winning goal against England in Sydney, only to find out after the game her father had died.
Jose Luis Mendilibar's Europa League winners have now lost their opening three matches in a dismal start to La Liga, in which they are bottom.
Earlier Cadiz players came out for their 1-1 draw against Almeria with a banner reading "We are all Jenni".
rbs/dj
Aimee Lewis, Alex Stambaugh, Al Goodman and Gerardo Lemos, CNN
Sat, Aug 26, 2023,
Spain’s football federation has threatened to take legal action against one of the country’s star players, Jennifer Hermoso, accusing her of lying about being kissed by federation president Luis Rubiales.
Hermoso said Friday that at no point did she consent to a kiss by the country’s soccer chief – at the medal ceremony last Sunday after Spain had won the Women’s World Cup – writing on social media, “I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part.”
In a statement Friday, responding to Hermoso and Spain’s Association of Professional Soccer Players (FUTPRO), the federation defended Rubiales, who described the kiss as “mutual” and spoke of “unjust” campaigns and “fake feminism.”
“The evidence is conclusive. The President has not lied,” the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said, alongside descriptions of photos attempting to support Rubiales’ claim.
“The RFEF and the President will demonstrate each of the lies that are spread either by someone on behalf of the player or, if applicable, by the player herself.
“The RFEF and the President, given the seriousness of the content of the press release from the Futpro Union, will initiate the corresponding legal actions,” the statement said.
The federation went on to say that players had “an obligation” to participate in matches “if they are called for it,” after all 23 members of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad, including Hermoso, and nearly 50 other professional women soccer players, said they would not play again for the country until Rubiales is removed from his position.
On Saturday, the federation doubled down on its accusations of lying against Hermoso. In a since deleted statement, the RFEF said, “We have to state that Ms. Jennifer Hermoso lies in every statement she makes against the president” and again threatened legal action. It is unclear why the RFEF chose to delete the statement from its website.
On Saturday, soccer’s world governing body FIFA provisionally suspended Rubiales from “all football-related activities” after it said on Thursday that it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales as he may have violated the game’s “basic rules of decent conduct.”
Following Spain’s victory over England in the Women’s World Cup final, Rubiales was filmed kissing Hermoso on the lips after she had collected her winners’ medal, an act which the 33-year-old said later that day she “didn’t like” and “didn’t expect.”
Rubiales, who said on Monday he had “made a mistake,” has come under fierce criticism throughout the week, from the soccer world and some Spanish politicians, including Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, who said the apology for what he called an “unacceptable gesture” was “not enough.”
But on Friday the scandal escalated further when Rubiales made a defiant speech at the federation’s Extraordinary General Assembly, where he emphatically said he would not resign.
In responding to Rubiales’ speech, Hermoso said the RFEF president’s explanation of the incident was “categorically” false, adding: “I want to reiterate as I did before that I did not like this incident.”
She also described refusing requests to issue a statement to “alleviate the pressure” on Rubiales, saying she had been “under continuous pressure to make a statement that could justify Mr. Luis Rubiales’ actions.”
“Not only that, but in different ways and through different people, the REF has pressured my surroundings (family, friends, teammates, etc.) to give a testimony that had little or nothing to do with my feelings,” she added.
On a statement posted on the players union site FUTPRO and shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, the national team players said that those who had signed the statement would not “put themselves forward for National team selection as long as the actual leadership remains in place.”
“No woman should see herself needing to answer questions based on the blunt images that the entire world has seen and, of course, no one should be involved in attitudes without consent,” the statement read.
“It fills us with sadness that an act, so unacceptable as this, is managing to tarnish the biggest sporting achievement in Spanish women’s football history.”
Following Rubiales’ comments on Friday, the president of Spain’s High Council of Sport (CSD), Víctor Francos, said the council would look to suspend Rubiales as quickly as it could while following due process.
The CSD is an autonomous decision-making body of the Spanish government’s Ministry of Culture and Sport and has the potential power to demand the removal of Rubiales. However, to do so the body needs to follow a series of required steps, including having a complaint filed against him and the case having to be heard in front of a tribunal.
Some members of the Spanish soccer community have been especially critical of Rubiales’ speech, with Hermoso’s international teammate and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas calling it “unacceptable.”
Spain men’s international striker Borja Iglesias said on social media he would not play for the national team “until things change,” while Spain’s acting second deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz, called for Rubiales to resign.
Patrick Sung, David Close and Kevin Dotson contributed reporting.
FIFA suspends Luis Rubiales and coaching staff walk out over Women’s World Cup kiss row
Lawrence Ostlere
Sat, 26 August 2023
FIFA has suspended Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales over his conduct and the women’s national team’s coaching staff have walked out as he still refused to resign over the deepening World Cup kiss row.
Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activity for 90 days and is not allowed to contact Spanish midfielder Jenni Hermoso or those close to her.
He is currently the subject of a Fifa investigation into his behaviour after the match, when he kissed forward Hermoso on the lips and was also filmed grabbing his crotch in an aggressive celebration at the full-time whistle. He has come under increasing pressure from across sport and politics but on Friday refused to resign in a chaotic press conference.
While Rubiales held his ground, federation vice president Rafael del Amo, who had been in charge of women’s football, resigned. Four assistant coaches for Spain’s senior team, plus two coaches of the women’s youth teams, and five other staff members for the senior and youth women’s teams also resigned on Saturday.
Spain’s World Cup winning manager Jorge Vilda – a firm allay of Rubiales – has not followed his staff in stepping down and remains in his post, although he condemned the federation president’s actions as “inappropriate and unacceptable”.
In a statement, Fifa said: “The chairman of the Fifa disciplinary committee ... has decided today to provisionally suspend Mr Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level.”
Rubiales claimed the kiss was “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual” but Hermoso, who previously suggested comments playing down the incident attributed to her by the federation were false, hit back with an attack on the organisation as a whole.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) which Rubiales runs said it analysed four images of Hermoso and Rubiales embracing, claiming they show it was Hermoso’s force that lifted him in the air, in an effort to blame the player for initiating the kiss. Hermoso was quoted in a statement issued by Futpro, the players’ union representing her, as stating “in no case did I seek to raise the president” during the podium incident.
Hermoso had accused the Federation of a “manipulative, hostile and controlling culture” as the World Cup-winning squad refused to play while Rubiales remains in post. A total of 81 players signed a letter stating they will not accept national team call-ups while Rubiales refuses to resign.
In the early hours of Saturday, RFEF said it would show there have been lies about what happened by Hermoso or people speaking for her and vowed to initiate legal action.
“Where there is rule of law ... opinions are counteracted with facts and evidence, and lies are rebutted in court ... The RFEF and the president will show each of the lies that are spread either by someone on behalf of the player or, if applicable, by the player herself,” it said.
FA Spanish president Luis Rubiales kisses Jenni Hermoso (BBC)
Rubiales has also come under fire when footage emerged appearing to show the federation president grabbing his crotch when Spain won, while sat close to the Queen of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter.
Elsewhere, Spain’s government has started legal proceedings seeking to suspend the soccer federation chief. Victor Francos, head of the state-run National Sports Council, told a news conference: “The government starts today the procedure so that Mr Rubiales has to give explanations before the Sport Court and if the Sport Court agrees, I can announce that we will suspend Mr Rubiales from his functions.”
The secretary of sport also added that he hoped this incident would become “Spanish football’s MeToo moment”.
The Spanish team has also been backed by the Lionesses, whom they beat in Sunday’s final in Sydney. England players declared on Friday evening that they stand with Hermoso, describing the incident as “unacceptable”.
Full Fifa statement on Luis Rubiales
“The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), in use of the powers granted by article 51 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), has decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level. This suspension, which will be effective as of today, is for an initial period of 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings opened against Mr. Luis Rubiales on Thursday, August 24.
“Likewise, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and in order to preserve, among other factors, the fundamental rights of the national soccer team player Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and the good order of the disciplinary proceedings before this disciplinary body, has issued two additional directives (article 7 FDC) by which he orders Mr. Luis Rubiales to refrain, through himself or third parties, from contacting or attempting to contact the professional player of the Spanish national football team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso or her close environment. Likewise, the RFEF and its officials or employees, directly or through third parties, are ordered to refrain from contacting the professional player of the Spanish national team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and her close environment.
“The decision adopted by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has been communicated today to Mr. Luis Rubiales, the RFEF and UEFA for due compliance.“
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will not provide any further information on these disciplinary proceedings until a final decision has been taken.“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respect the integrity of all persons and therefore condemns with the utmost vigor any behavior to the contrary.”
Additional reporting by PA
Maria Noyen
Sat, August 26, 2023
Spain's Jennifer Hermoso.Isabel Infantes/PA/Getty Images
FIFA suspended Spain's soccer chief Luis Rubiales from "all football-related activities" for 90 days.
He'd refused to resign after kissing star player Jenni Hermoso after Spain's World Cup win.
Spain's soccer federation threatened to sue Hermoso for her statements about the incident.
One of Spain's star soccer players could face legal action after the country's football association said it would sue her for saying she did not consent to a kiss with the organization's president.
The incident occurred after Spain's 1-0 victory over England in the final of the 2023 women's World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
Luis Rubiales, the president of Spain's soccer federation, kissed Jenni Hermoso during the presentation ceremony. He also grabbed his crotch while celebrating his team's win while standing near Queen Letizia of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter, Infanta Sofía.
Rubiales has refused to resign from his position over the incident, but FIFA announced Saturday that Rubiales had been provisionally suspended from "all football-related activities" at national and international level for 90 days.
Soccer's global governing body said Rubiales had been informed of the disciplinary committee's decision, and been ordered not to contact Hermoso or those close to her.
The Spanish government earlier said it was looking to suspend Rubiales, the BBC reported.
Luis Rubiales kisses Jenni Hermoso after Spain beat England during the 2023 women's World Cup final on August 20.Noemi Llamas/Getty Images
On Friday Rubiales fired back at critics, claiming the kiss had been "mutual, euphoric and consensual."
"Jenni was the one who lifted me up," he added. "I told her to 'forget about the penalty' and I said to her 'a little peck?' and she said 'OK'."
Hermoso contradicted Rubiales' version of events in an Instagram statement, saying his words were "categorically false."
"I want to make it clear that at no time did the conversation to which Mr. Luis Rubiales refers to in his address take place, and, above all, was his kiss ever consensual," the post says. "Simply put, I was not respected."
Before the FIFA move, the Spanish federation said it would take legal action over what it called Hermoso's "lies," the BBC reported.
"The evidence is conclusive," the organization said. "Mr President has not lied."
Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has refused to resign.
The report said the Spanish body issued four photographs of the kiss, each accompanied by an analysis, which it claimed proved Hermoso lifted Rubiales' feet off the ground.
Following Rubiales' refusal to step down, 81 Spanish players said they would refuse to play for the national team until he is removed from his role.
Luis Rubiales carries Athenea del Castillo Beivide after Spain won the women's World Cup.
"After everything that happened during the Women's World Cup medal ceremony, we want to state that all the players who sign this letter will not return to a selection for the national team if the current leaders continue," the statement read.
The players' strike comes as Spain is set to take on Sweden at the UEFA Women's Nations League tournament next month.
The Spanish federation also addressed Hermoso's teammates refusal to play in its statement announcing legal action, saying that players have an "obligation" to represent their country if selected for the team.
Representatives for the Spanish federation and Hermoso did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, made outside normal working hours.
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