Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF), staunchly refused to resign following the backlash he faced for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent after Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup. Despite calls for his resignation from government ministers and prominent figures in the sport, Rubiales declared his determination to fight until the end. He dismissed the notion that a consensual peck could force him to step down, referring to the incident as a spontaneous, mutually agreed-upon expression of joy. Rubiales defended himself against the criticism, describing the pressure he faced as an attempt to publicly discredit him and vowed to take action against his detractors.
The controversy surrounding Rubiales intensified when he also apologized for grabbing his crotch during the celebrations of Spain’s win against England, a gesture witnessed by Spanish Queen Letizia. Rubiales attributed his actions to overwhelming emotions and expressed regret for his momentary lapse of control. However, the apology did little to quell the disapproval, with Spain’s second deputy prime minister, Yolanda Diaz, deeming Rubiales’ speech and refusal to resign as unacceptable. Diaz called for urgent measures to address such macho behavior and insisted that Rubiales must step down from his position.
Throughout this ordeal, Spanish women’s players, both past and present, have shown support for Hermoso. They have taken to social media to express their solidarity and denounce the actions of Rubiales. Notably, Alexia Putellas, the Ballon d’Or winner, declared that enough is enough. Patri Guijarro, another prominent midfielder, echoed the sentiment. Guijarro and thirteen other players had previously submitted their resignations in protest against the team coach, Jorge Vilda, citing complaints about the team’s culture and its impact on their emotional well-being. In a surprising move, Rubiales announced that Vilda would receive a new contract, further deepening the divide within the Spanish women’s national team.
It is essential to note that the previous coach of the women’s national team, Ignacio Quereda, had faced allegations of sexual coercion and homophobia from former players. In a show of solidarity with Hermoso, Borja Iglesias and Hector Bellerin, members of the Spanish men’s team, also resigned from the national squad.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Rubiales remains steadfast in his position, determined to weather the storm and retain his role as the president of the RFEF. The outcome of this situation and the repercussions for Spanish women’s soccer are yet to be seen.
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