Jenni Hermoso, the football player who unexpectedly received an unwanted kiss from Luis Rubiales, a Spanish soccer official, after the 2023 World Cup final, released a joint statement through her union on Friday. In this statement, she vehemently rejected Rubiales’ account of the incident. Rubiales, speaking at the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s Extraordinary General Assembly, defiantly stated that he will not resign as president despite the intense criticism he has faced.
Hermoso described Rubiales’ version of events as “categorically false” and stated that she felt vulnerable and violated by his actions. She expressed that she was not respected in that moment. Following the announcement of Hermoso’s statement, Spain’s national team players declared that they will not participate in any games unless Rubiales steps down.
FIFA has opened a disciplinary case against Rubiales for the unwanted kiss without Hermoso’s consent. The governing body’s disciplinary committee will determine if Rubiales violated FIFA’s code of conduct regarding decent behavior and bringing the sport into disrepute.
Furthermore, Rubiales was filmed grabbing his crotch in the presence of Queen Letizia of Spain and Princess Sofía during the celebratory event. Hermoso expressed her disapproval of the kiss, and the players’ union demanded accountability for Rubiales’ behavior, which he himself once led.
The Spanish government’s equality minister, Irene Montero, described the kiss as a form of sexual violence that women face regularly and emphasized the importance of not normalizing such actions. FIFA responded by condemning any behavior contrary to respecting individuals’ integrity, without specifying which actions by Rubiales are under investigation.
It remains uncertain when FIFA will reach a decision in this case. The disciplinary judges have the authority to impose sanctions on Rubiales, ranging from warnings and fines to suspensions from the sport.
In the past, the Spain women’s squad also expressed discontentment with the team’s culture under coach Jorge Vilda, leading to near-mutiny. The FIFA disciplinary panel, led by former labor court judge Jorge Palacio, will adjudicate this case, with three of the 16 members serving as judges, including representatives from England, Mexico, and Thailand.
Rubiales is a vice president of UEFA and was the organization’s highest-ranking representative at the Women’s World Cup. So far, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has yet to comment on Rubiales’ conduct. However, Rubiales is scheduled to host UEFA’s next annual congress in Madrid in February.
The Spanish soccer federation, led by Rubiales for the past five years, has an emergency meeting planned to address the controversy surrounding him. It remains to be seen whether this meeting will garner support for Rubiales or succumb to the pressure from Spanish government and soccer officials to remove him.
Rubiales, who previously served as the Spanish players’ union leader before becoming federation president in 2018, is currently leading the UEFA-backed bid to host the 2030 men’s World Cup. Spain is bidding in collaboration with neighboring Portugal, Morocco, and possibly Ukraine.
Victor Francos, Spain’s secretary of state for sports, criticized Rubiales’ behavior, stating that it has damaged the country’s image as it strives to secure support for hosting the World Cup. FIFA postponed the launch of the 2030 bid contest but aims to make a decision by late next year. Currently, the Spain-led bid is favored over the South American plan involving Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Saudi Arabia is speculated to bid for the 2034 edition instead.
In conclusion, Hermoso’s rejection of Rubiales’ account, coupled with the disciplinary case initiated by FIFA, has created a significant controversy surrounding the Spanish soccer official. The outcome of this case and the future of Rubiales’ position as RFEF president remain uncertain.
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