Football Luis Rubiales
Kiss affair – pressure on the abusive president is growing
Status: 3:49 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Player defends Spanish federation president after kiss at award ceremony
The kiss on the mouth of Jenni Hermoso by Spanish football association president Luis Rubiales at the award ceremony after the World Cup final against England caused outrage. Now the player has spoken up and defended Rubiales.
Luis Rubiales kissed, hugged and piggybacked players. This could now have consequences for the Spanish association president. An Extraordinary General Assembly will be held on Friday. Even the prime minister speaks out.
Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales has to answer to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee – and to the government – for his abusive behavior after the World Cup final. “Of course we are waiting for something to happen. If that is not the case, the government will act,” said Presidential Minister Félix Bolaños before the extraordinary general assembly of the Spanish association RFEF this Friday in Madrid. It is unlikely that Rubiales’ unsolicited kiss would have no consequences for world champion Jennifer Hermoso.
“Fifa reaffirms its unreserved commitment to respecting the integrity of all people and therefore strongly condemns any behavior to the contrary,” said the world football association on Thursday at the opening of disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales. The Disciplinary Committee is investigating a violation of Article 13 of its own regulations, which is headed “Offending behavior and violations of the principles of fair play”. The 46-year-old Rubiales is Vice President of the European Football Union Uefa.
Is that how an association president acts?
Credit: AFP/DAVID GRAY
Rubiales kissed 33-year-old Hermoso on the mouth during the awards ceremony after the 1-0 win against England last Sunday in Sydney. Several cameras recorded the moment. He also squeezed and kissed other players, lifting Athenea del Castillo Beivide onto his shoulder with one arm. In the days that followed, criticism and outrage grew, forcing the RFEF to act. “What we have seen is unacceptable,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The Spanish players’ union FutPro called for “exemplary measures”. Such acts should “never go unpunished,” the union said, also quoting Hermoso. “My union FutPro, in coordination with my agency TMJ, takes care of the defense of my interests and is the interlocutor in this matter,” said the world champion accordingly.
“What kind of upside-down world do we live in?” asks Rapinoe
Rubiales had – with a delay – admitted a mistake on Monday. He kissed Hermoso on the mouth “spontaneously” and “without any bad intentions or bad will”. The incident had fueled the discussion about abusive behavior in football again.
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US star Megan Rapinoe spoke of a large “extent of misogyny and sexism in this association and in this man”. The 38-year-old said in an interview to the “The Athletic” portal: “What kind of upside-down world do we actually live in? On the biggest stage to party, Jenni (Hermoso) needs to be physically assaulted by this guy.”
In Spain, Rubiales’ resignation has been repeatedly called for in recent days. It is questionable whether he will be forced to do so as a result of the RFEF General Assembly. Rather, it is expected that the functionary will receive “massive support” at the General Assembly, according to the radio station “Cadena Ser” and other media.
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