In a half-hour speech at the opening of an extraordinary general assembly of the Spanish federation convened urgently in Madrid this Friday, the boss of Spanish football, Luis Rubiales, apologized. After his forced kiss on a player from La Roja after the victorious final of the World Cup against England, Rubiales drew the wrath of public opinion and politicians.
The boss of the RFEF did not stop on his apologies, he defended his actions, saying that his kiss on the mouth of Jenni Hermoso, the national team’s top scorer, had been “spontaneous, mutual, consented” and that he had not been administered from a “position of power” even adding: “I kissed him as I would have done with my daughters”. He did not stop there and revealed to everyone’s surprise that he would not resign from his post as president, stigmatizing “false feminism” which “does not seek the truth”. In particular, he attacked three women members of the government by name, including the Communist Minister of Labor and number three in the government, Yolanda Díaz, who had been one of the first to demand his resignation. “The government must act and take urgent measures”, affirmed on the X network (formerly Twitter) Ms. Díaz, the Minister of Labor and second vice-president of the government, whom Mr. Rubiales had attacked by name in his speech. “Rubiales cannot continue in his position,” she added.
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His speech caused La Liga president Javier Tebas to jump, who felt that Luis Rubiales had “offended” too many people and suggested that he should resign shortly after the resounding announcement of his retention as head of the club. Spanish federation of the latter, despite his forced kiss on a player. “The list of women and men offended in recent years by Luis Rubiales is too long, this must stop,” wrote Javier Tebas on X, formerly Twitter. The vice-president of the government also described her speech as “unacceptable”.
Spanish internationals also attacked Rubiales after his statements. Legendary Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas said “Shame on you” on X. Even more extreme, Borja Iglesias announced that he would retire with the national team until the situation was resolved. “Wearing the Spanish national team jersey is one of the best things that has happened to me in my career,” he wrote. I don’t know if at some point I will be an option again (for the manager), but I have made the decision not to return to the national team until things change and this type of act does not go unpunished.” said the Betis striker who has worn the Roja shirt twice.
His teammate Hector Bellerin also reacted: “It’s really shameful what is happening… Representing our country with this vulgarity, distorting the words of the victim, and on top of that, having the courage to blame her for victimizing herself -even after committing an abuse, are facts for which no one can go unpunished. Football is a social tool that should allow us to move forward and progress, machismo should have no place there. The narcissist never believes he has made a mistake, he is able to lie, manipulate the truth and make the victim feel guilty in order to maintain his hold on others. The Spaniard Alexia Putellas, Ballon d’Or, also deemed “unacceptable” the speech of the boss of football in his country Luis Rubiales who decided not to resign despite his forced kiss on the player Jenni Hermoso. “This is unacceptable. Let’s get it over with. I am with you dear Jenni Hermoso”, reacted the FC Barcelona player on the social network “X” (formerly Twitter).
