disgusting, Rubiales refuses to resign and poses as a victim of “false feminism” – Liberation

2023 Women’s Football World Cup file The boss of the Spanish Football Federation clings to his post and indulges in victim rhetoric this Friday, August 25, while describing the kiss imposed on the player Jennifer Hermoso as “consented”.

He chanted it four times, and to the abject applause of members of the Spanish Football Federation: “I’m not going to resign!” Given on the departure by a large part of the Spanish press, Luis Rubiales finally refused to let go of the presidency of the Federation this Friday, August 25. The body held an extraordinary General Assembly, in reaction to the kiss imposed by their boss on the player Jennifer Hermoso, during the medal ceremony for the Women’s World Cup, in Sydney on August 20.

The salvoes of criticism targeting Rubiales from all sides, then the opening of disciplinary proceedings by Fifa on Thursday, will not have overcome his stubbornness. Denouncing a “false feminism”, this “social scourge in the country”, the boss of Spanish football said he was the victim of a “social assassination”, while defending a “spontaneous and consented” gesture. Since his first statements on Sunday, when he insulted his detractors as “idiot and stupid people”, Luis Rubiales had only committed a failed apology video on Monday August 21, between “ask for forgiveness if someone has been hurt » and legitimization of a gesture that he considered « normal, natural ».

Rubiales threatens several ministers with legal action

He therefore did it again this Friday, by multiplying the provocative statements. “The desire that this kiss could contain is exactly the same as I would have if I kissed one of my daughters. There is no desire or position of domination”, he assured, before allowing himself a short lesson in feminism: “I am telling the truth here today. Girls, learn it, it’s a life lesson. You are real feminists, not [comme] the false feminism that we see here and there”.

Attacking the political figures who described his forced kiss with Jennifer Hermoso as “sexual violence”, including the Spanish Ministers for Equality Irene Montero and that of Social Rights Ione Belarra, the boss of the Federation promised them ” actions before the courts”. Before daring to ask: “What will women who have been sexually assaulted think? What will a woman who has been coerced and sexually assaulted think?

The only apologies presented this Friday by Luis Rubiales are addressed to the Queen of Spain Letizia and the Infanta Sofia, next to whom he celebrated the goal of his player Olga Carmona in the World Cup final by grabbing his own genitals in a obscene gesture.

“Unacceptable” for the Ballon d’Or Putellas

“What we saw today at the Federation Assembly is unacceptable. The government must act and take urgent measures. Impunity against macho acts is over, ”reacted the vice-president of the government Yolanda Diaz. The president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, reiterated his call for the resignation, considering that “the list of women and men offended in recent years by Luis Rubiales is too long” and that “it must stop”. “Rubiales seeks impunity,” tackled Minister Irene Montero, adding: “Today and more than ever, Jenni Hermoso, you are not alone.”

Among the players too, solidarity with Jennifer Hermoso is flowing. A watchword: “that’s enough”, taken up in heart by the double Ballon d’Or Alexia Putellas, denouncing an “unacceptable” speech, or the Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll. “Shame,” said legend Iker Casillas, when international Borja Iglesias went so far as to give up wearing the Spain men’s national team jersey “until things change and this guy act does not go unpunished”.

Since Sunday, the pressure on the boss of the Federation has only swelled. Multiple calls for resignation from Spanish ministers, condemnations of his apologies as “insufficient and inappropriate” by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, dropping by several Spanish clubs (including FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid) and opening of a disciplinary investigation by FIFA on the grounds of an “attack on the dignity or integrity” of a person “because of their sex”. Not enough to make him flinch.

Damning revelations

However, in addition to the kiss imposed on the number 10 of La Roja, the damning revelations about Luis Rubiales have been piling up for five days. On Monday, the video of his obscene gesture in the stands of Syndey’s Australia stadium ignited social networks. On Tuesday, the sports media Relevo demonstrated that Jennifer Hermoso would never have uttered the words minimizing the aggression that the Football Federation had attributed to her, her communication service having, according to the media, entirely written the press release issued the same day of the facts. Luis Rubiales and coach Jorge Vilda have also, again according to Relevo, put pressure on Jennifer Hermoso and her family, as well as on the captain of La Roja Ivana Andrés, so that they contribute to the crisis communication to the advantage of the boss of the Federation.

On Wednesday, the Futpro union announced in a press release that Jennifer Hermoso had appointed him to “represent his interests”. By posing “strongly condemn conduct that undermines the dignity of women”, Futpro immediately called on the Federation for “exemplary measures” against its president. The loud applause that greeted Luis Rubiales’ astonishing speech this Friday seems to show that this will not be the case.

Updated: 3:35 p.m., with player reactions to Luis Rubiales’ intervention.