As all 23 members of the team sign a statement refusing to play until he is fired, Spanish World Cup star Jenni Hermoso claims she did not consent to being kissed by football president Luis Rubiales after the women’s World Cup final.
“I want to make it clear that at no point did I consent to the kiss,” Hermoso said. I don’t like having my word questioned, much less having words made up that I haven’t said. ‘.
This comes after Rubiales repeatedly shouted that he would not resign on Friday but instead launched into a protracted tirade in which he claimed he was the target of a “witch-hunt.”.
Both the men’s and women’s national teams declared on Friday, August 25, that they would not compete until Rubiales had been fired for kissing Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s World Cup victory.
In the royal box, next to Queen Letizia of Spain and her daughter, he also appeared to grab his crotch while watching.
The Spanish government has filed a lawsuit in an effort to have the 46-year-old suspended after he refused to resign. The government views this as the “MeToo of Spanish football,” according to Victor Francos, head of the National Sports Council of the government, according to a report in The Times.
“The government begins today the procedures so that Mr. Rubiales has to explain himself before the Administrative Court of Sport [TAD] and, if the TAD is willing, we will suspend Mr. Rubiales in his functions,” he continued. ‘.
A court hearing is anticipated for Monday.
The head coach of the football team said the kiss was “consensual” and added, “It was a spontaneous kiss.”. euphoric, mutual, and voluntary. That is crucial. Is a mutual “peck” enough to get me out of here?
When Hermoso was later asked about the incident on Spanish TV, she responded, “I did not like it. ‘.
A total of 81 players agreed to sign a letter through their FUTPRO union requesting the ouster of the federation’s executive committee and pledging not to compete for their country until Rubiales is gone.
As a result of Luis Rubiales’ announcement that he would not be stepping down as president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rafael del Amo, the president of the Spanish Women’s Football Committee, resigned.
Del Amo, who is in charge of the organization that oversees women’s football in Spain, asserted on Friday that he was unable to work on a project that he ‘did not believe in. ‘.
Del Amo reportedly stated, “I have submitted my resignation after seeing that Luis Rubiales continues to lead the Federation.”.
The only president to tell him while looking at his face was me. I am so appreciative that he chose to support my idea for a female project with 27 million euros even though it did not yet exist.
But I believe that it is unacceptable, primarily due to what occurred in the box. ‘.
In a stirring speech earlier on Friday, Rubiales defiantly charged that “false feminism” was responsible for a “social murder” directed at him.
He continued, “Have to be honest with you, I think you can’t be here as president.” I told him [Rubiales] that.
I must thank him and appreciate what he does, but it is obvious that I cannot participate in a project in which I have no faith. All of us believed he would step down today on Thursday. ‘.
Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexis Putellas, as well as World Cup champion teammates Cata Coll, Aitana Bonmati, and Irene Paredes, have all publicly defended Hermoso.
Other Spanish football stars and Hermoso’s teammates, however, disagreed.
Borja Iglesias, a striker for the men’s national team, has also resigned from international competition in opposition to Rubiales’ continued appointment.
Two times selected for Spain’s national team, the 30-year-old Real Betis full-back said: “Wearing the Spanish National Team shirt is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my career.”.
I have decided not to join the National Team until circumstances have changed and this kind of behavior is not tolerated.
I don’t know if I will ever be a viable option again.
‘.
