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Spanish football president faces increasing calls to resign after ruining World Cup celebrations with unwanted kiss
Luis Rubiales, Spanish Federation president during the FIFAWWC Final match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
LAUSANNE, August 24, 2023 - It appears under-fire Luis Rubiales is hell-bent on clinging to his position as president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) despite deafening calls for his resignation. Days have passed since Rubiales planted an unwanted kiss on the lips of Spanish World Cup star Jennifer Hermoso on the stage of Spain’s historic victory celebration with the world watching. Since Sunday, heavy criticism from countless corners, including the Spanish government, has rained down on him for his “disgusting” and “inappropriate” behaviour, reaching a crescendo on Wednesday with Hermoso calling for “examplary measures” to be taken against Rubiales.
HERMOSO AND FUTPRO STATEMENT “My union, FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency, TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and being the interlocutors on this matter,” Hermoso said in a short statement on Wednesday.
FUTPRO, the union which represents female players in Spain, added: “We are working so that the acts like the ones we witnessed don’t go unpunished, are sanctioned, and that pertinent measures are adopted to protect football players against actions that are unacceptable.”
The union also called on the RFEF to “implement the necessary protocols and to ensure the rights of our players and adopt exemplary measures,” explaining that “it is essential that our national team is represented by figures that project its values of equality and respect in all areas.”
A SHADOW This incident that has overshadowed a moment of glory for Spain happened while the Spanish players were collecting their World Cup gold medals after beating England 1-0 in the final on Sunday. Rubiales is captured by the cameras grabbing Hermoso by the head, pulling her towards him and kissing her on the lips. A gesture which the latter later said during an Instagram live that she “didn’t like”, before a statement issued by the Royal Spanish Football Federation quoted Hermoso as saying: “It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture due to the immense joy of winning the World Cup.” The contradictory responses only drew further scrutiny, not just to this incident but to the profound issues that are unravelling.
"IDIOTS AND STUPID PEOPLE" Rubiales initially tried to undermine the gravity of his misconduct when he told broadcaster COPE on Sunday that “it was a kiss between two friends celebrating something” and called his critics “idiots and stupid people”, but was eventually forced to "apologise".
“When you are president of an institution as important as the federation, you have to be more careful,” Rubiales said in the video. “We saw it as something natural, normal and not in bad faith, but there are people who have been hurt by this and I have to apologise. There’s no other way, is there?”
"MISOGYNY AND SEXISM" This seemingly half-hearted apology only fuelled the outrage and probably confirmed what US women’s football star Megan Rapinoe described to The Atlantic as a “deep level of misogyny and sexism” in the Spanish federation and Rubiales himself. To make matters worse, Spanish media outlet Relovo revealed that Rubiales had pleaded with Hermoso to appear in his apology video but she refused, then coach Jorge Vilda also tried to intervene through the player’s relatives. Relovo also stated that Hermoso’s quote in RFEF's statement was fabricated. Rubiales is also being criticised for the way he hugged and kissed other players on the cheek during the medal ceremony and for grabbing his crotch in a victory gesture at the final whistle, standing near 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofía and Queen Letizia of Spain in the VIP area of Stadium Australia.
REVOLT Last year, 15 players in the Spain squad declared themselves unavailable for selection as long as Vilda continue as head coach of the team, accusing him of creating a toxic atmosphere and negatively impacting their mental health. However, Rubiales and the RFEF supported Vilda, and all but three of the players who complained missed out on the World Cup. Then a “Vilda In” post on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the team’s triumph in Sydney was one way the RFEF communicated their vindication.
RFEF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY The Spanish federation announced later on Tuesday that it would hold an emergency Extraordinary General Assembly on Friday to discuss the issue. "Based on the latest events that took place during the award ceremony of the Women's World Cup won by the Spanish National Team last Sunday in Sydney, the Federation wishes to inform that the internal proceedings of the Federation regarding Integrity issues are open, as well as the rest of the applicable protocols,” the statement read.
LINGERING CONTROVERSY Amid the royal welcome given to the team on Monday evening as they brought the trophy home with tens of thousands of fans pouring onto the streets of Madrid, the controversy lingered, casting a shadow over the team’s incredible achievement. “One of the greatest feats in the history of Spanish sport was sullied by the embarrassing behaviour of the highest representative of Spanish football who, once again proved not to be up to the task he holds,” Liga F said in a statement on Wednesday, demanding that Rubiales resign.
APOLOGIES NOT ENOUGH On Tuesday, the acting prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said Rubiales’s apologies are insufficient. “What we saw was an unacceptable gesture,” he told reporters. “And the apologies he has given are not enough, I believe they are not adequate. He needs to continue to take steps to clarify what we all saw.” Spain’s minister of equality, Irene Montero, described Rubiales’ unsolicited kiss as “a form of sexual violence that we women suffer on a daily basis and until now has been invisible,” on social media. “We can’t normalise this,” she added. And second deputy prime minister Yolanda Diaz joined those calling Rubiales to resign.
GRAVE INCIDENT Spain’s players union, which Rubiales used to head, on Tuesday called for Spain's Higher Council for Sports, which oversees Spanish sports, to take action against Rubiales if he does not step down. “The incident regarding Jenni Hermoso is especially grave since she finds herself in a situation of vulnerability before a person in a position of power,” the union said. “A once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the Spanish players has been overshadowed by the improper behaviour of the federation president.”
FIFPRO STATEMENT FIFPRO, the worldwide representative organisation for all professional footballers, on Wednesday backed the Spanish Players' Association (AFE). “FIFPRO fully endorses the statement of the AFE in calling for immediate action to address the conduct of Rubiales at the final and is requesting an investigation of his actions under FIFA's code of ethics,” a statement said.
“We reiterate that it was deeply lamentable that such a special moment for the players of the Spain team taking place before a global television audience should be stained by the inappropriate conduct of an individual in a role carrying so much responsibility."Uninitiated and uninvited physical approaches towards players are not appropriate of acceptable in any context, and especially not when they are put in a position of vulnerability by a person who holds a position of power over them in their workplace.”
FIFA STEPS IN World football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales "based on the events that occured during the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup on 20 August 2023."
Events which according to FIFA may have constituted the violation of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
HERMOSO AND FUTPRO STATEMENT “My union, FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency, TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and being the interlocutors on this matter,” Hermoso said in a short statement on Wednesday.
FUTPRO, the union which represents female players in Spain, added: “We are working so that the acts like the ones we witnessed don’t go unpunished, are sanctioned, and that pertinent measures are adopted to protect football players against actions that are unacceptable.”
The union also called on the RFEF to “implement the necessary protocols and to ensure the rights of our players and adopt exemplary measures,” explaining that “it is essential that our national team is represented by figures that project its values of equality and respect in all areas.”
A SHADOW This incident that has overshadowed a moment of glory for Spain happened while the Spanish players were collecting their World Cup gold medals after beating England 1-0 in the final on Sunday. Rubiales is captured by the cameras grabbing Hermoso by the head, pulling her towards him and kissing her on the lips. A gesture which the latter later said during an Instagram live that she “didn’t like”, before a statement issued by the Royal Spanish Football Federation quoted Hermoso as saying: “It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture due to the immense joy of winning the World Cup.” The contradictory responses only drew further scrutiny, not just to this incident but to the profound issues that are unravelling.
"IDIOTS AND STUPID PEOPLE" Rubiales initially tried to undermine the gravity of his misconduct when he told broadcaster COPE on Sunday that “it was a kiss between two friends celebrating something” and called his critics “idiots and stupid people”, but was eventually forced to "apologise".
“When you are president of an institution as important as the federation, you have to be more careful,” Rubiales said in the video. “We saw it as something natural, normal and not in bad faith, but there are people who have been hurt by this and I have to apologise. There’s no other way, is there?”
"MISOGYNY AND SEXISM" This seemingly half-hearted apology only fuelled the outrage and probably confirmed what US women’s football star Megan Rapinoe described to The Atlantic as a “deep level of misogyny and sexism” in the Spanish federation and Rubiales himself. To make matters worse, Spanish media outlet Relovo revealed that Rubiales had pleaded with Hermoso to appear in his apology video but she refused, then coach Jorge Vilda also tried to intervene through the player’s relatives. Relovo also stated that Hermoso’s quote in RFEF's statement was fabricated. Rubiales is also being criticised for the way he hugged and kissed other players on the cheek during the medal ceremony and for grabbing his crotch in a victory gesture at the final whistle, standing near 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofía and Queen Letizia of Spain in the VIP area of Stadium Australia.
REVOLT Last year, 15 players in the Spain squad declared themselves unavailable for selection as long as Vilda continue as head coach of the team, accusing him of creating a toxic atmosphere and negatively impacting their mental health. However, Rubiales and the RFEF supported Vilda, and all but three of the players who complained missed out on the World Cup. Then a “Vilda In” post on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the team’s triumph in Sydney was one way the RFEF communicated their vindication.
RFEF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY The Spanish federation announced later on Tuesday that it would hold an emergency Extraordinary General Assembly on Friday to discuss the issue. "Based on the latest events that took place during the award ceremony of the Women's World Cup won by the Spanish National Team last Sunday in Sydney, the Federation wishes to inform that the internal proceedings of the Federation regarding Integrity issues are open, as well as the rest of the applicable protocols,” the statement read.
LINGERING CONTROVERSY Amid the royal welcome given to the team on Monday evening as they brought the trophy home with tens of thousands of fans pouring onto the streets of Madrid, the controversy lingered, casting a shadow over the team’s incredible achievement. “One of the greatest feats in the history of Spanish sport was sullied by the embarrassing behaviour of the highest representative of Spanish football who, once again proved not to be up to the task he holds,” Liga F said in a statement on Wednesday, demanding that Rubiales resign.
APOLOGIES NOT ENOUGH On Tuesday, the acting prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said Rubiales’s apologies are insufficient. “What we saw was an unacceptable gesture,” he told reporters. “And the apologies he has given are not enough, I believe they are not adequate. He needs to continue to take steps to clarify what we all saw.” Spain’s minister of equality, Irene Montero, described Rubiales’ unsolicited kiss as “a form of sexual violence that we women suffer on a daily basis and until now has been invisible,” on social media. “We can’t normalise this,” she added. And second deputy prime minister Yolanda Diaz joined those calling Rubiales to resign.
GRAVE INCIDENT Spain’s players union, which Rubiales used to head, on Tuesday called for Spain's Higher Council for Sports, which oversees Spanish sports, to take action against Rubiales if he does not step down. “The incident regarding Jenni Hermoso is especially grave since she finds herself in a situation of vulnerability before a person in a position of power,” the union said. “A once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the Spanish players has been overshadowed by the improper behaviour of the federation president.”
FIFPRO STATEMENT FIFPRO, the worldwide representative organisation for all professional footballers, on Wednesday backed the Spanish Players' Association (AFE). “FIFPRO fully endorses the statement of the AFE in calling for immediate action to address the conduct of Rubiales at the final and is requesting an investigation of his actions under FIFA's code of ethics,” a statement said.
“We reiterate that it was deeply lamentable that such a special moment for the players of the Spain team taking place before a global television audience should be stained by the inappropriate conduct of an individual in a role carrying so much responsibility."Uninitiated and uninvited physical approaches towards players are not appropriate of acceptable in any context, and especially not when they are put in a position of vulnerability by a person who holds a position of power over them in their workplace.”
FIFA STEPS IN World football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales "based on the events that occured during the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup on 20 August 2023."
Events which according to FIFA may have constituted the violation of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
According to this discplinary code officials, among others, "must comply with the principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity." and anyone who "violates the basic rules of decent conduct", "insults a natural or legal person in any way, especially by using offensive gestures, signs or language", "behaves in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute", may be subject to disciplinary measures.
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