Luis Rubiales hit out at “false feminism” and a “social assassination” of his character as he vowed to stay on as head of Spain’s football federation (RFEF) amid fierce criticism and a Fifa investigation for kissing Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the Women’s World Cup final trophy presentation.
In a passionate speech at an extraordinary general assembly of the RFEF, the 46-year-old reiterated that he would not be forced out of his role by what he felt was a witch hunt. “I will not resign,” he repeated five times to widespread applause. “I will fight this to the end.”
He characterised the events of the past five days as a “social assassination”, adding: “They are trying to kill me.” Rubiales linked the events of the past days to what he described as “false feminism, one of the scourges of this country”.
The remark prompted applause from some federation members, including Jorge Vilda, the coach of the women’s national team. “False feminism does not seek justice or truth. It does not care about people,” Rubiales added.
One day earlier, Spanish media had widely reported plans by the football chief to resign. The surprise twist prompted a torrent of reaction, with many renewing calls for Rubiales to resign. “What we have seen today at the federation’s assembly is unacceptable,” Yolanda Díaz, Spain’s acting labour minister and second deputy prime minister, said on social media. “The government must act and take urgent measures: impunity for machista [male chauvinist] actions is over. Rubiales cannot continue in the position.”
The country’s acting minister of equality, Irene Montero, who earlier this week described the kiss as a “form of sexual violence”, said on social media that Rubiales was “seeking impunity”. Given his refusal to resign, Spain’s public prosecutor and the National Sports Council would take action, she added. “Now, more than ever, Jenni Hermoso, you are not alone.”
Reactions also poured in from the football community, including members of the World Cup-winning squad. “This is unacceptable,” Alexia Putellas, Ballon d’Or winner and a teammate of Hermoso, wrote on social media, adding: “I’m with you Jenni Hermoso.”
(August 20, 2023)
'I didn’t like it.' Jenni Hermoso to teammates in a livestream she posted online
(August 20, 2023)
'Let’s not take it for granted that kissing without consent is something that "happens". It is a form of sexual violence that we women suffer on a daily basis and until now has been invisible and which we cannot normalise.' Spain’s acting gender equality minister, Irene Montero, on Twitter
(August 20, 2023)
'The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people have a moment of affection that means nothing more, you can’t listen to idiocy. We are the champions, that’s it.' Luis Rubiales in remarks to broadcasters
(August 21, 2023)
'Surely I was wrong, I have to admit. It was without bad faith at a time of maximum effusiveness.' Rubiales in a video statement published by the Spanish FA
(August 22, 2023)
'What we saw was an unacceptable gesture. And the apologies he has given are not enough, I believe they are not adequate.' Acting prime minister Pedro Sánchez
(August 22, 2023)
'What kind of upside-down world are we in? On the biggest stage, where you should be celebrating, Jenni has to be physically assaulted by this guy.' American forward Megan Rapinoe in an interview with the Atlantic
(August 22, 2023)
'I just thought, how barbaric, how embarrassing. We can’t overlook that this took place in a work environment.' Miguel Galán, who leads a national facility that trains football coaches
(August 23, 2023)
'One of the greatest feats in the history of Spanish sport has been tainted by the embarrassing behaviour of the highest representative of Spanish football … A boss grabbing his employee by the head and kissing her on the mouth simply cannot be tolerated. It’s not just about the kiss. Celebrating the triumph on the presidential balcony while holding his genitals next to the queen is unacceptable and disgusting.' Spain’s women’s football league La Liga F
(August 25, 2023)
'The government must act and take urgent measures: impunity for machista [male chauvinist] actions is over. Rubiales cannot continue in the position.' Tweet by Yolanda Díaz, Spain’s acting labour minister and second deputy prime minister
(August 25, 2023)
'It happened freely, it was mutual, consensual, but I have to apologise for the context in which it occurred. But do you think that it is enough to suffer the witchhunt that I am suffering? Do you honestly think so? … Do you think I have to resign? Well, I am going to tell you something. I am not going to resign. I am not going to resign. I am not going to resign. I will not resign. I will not resign.' Rubiales speaking at an RFEF emergency assembly
Minutes later the goalkeeper Cata Coll expressed the same message of solidarity on social media. “What a pity that the 23 female football players aren’t the protagonists,” she wrote, hinting at how the events of the past week have threatened to overshadow La Roja’s incredible achievements.
Borja Iglesias, a striker for Real Betis, said he would not return to Spain’s men’s team until things change. “I’m sad and disappointed,” he wrote on social media, adding that he felt that today’s events had not “represented him as a football player and person”.
In his speech, Rubiales made it clear he was seeking to curry favour with the federation’s 140 members, just six of whom are women. He began with an apology for grabbing his crotch, describing it as an “unfortunate” gesture made in the “euphoria” of the moment. The gesture – made as the country’s 16-year-old princess was nearby – was supposedly directed at the team’s coach, Vilda, as a tribute. “I have to apologise to the royal family,” he said. “It wasn’t very edifying.”
He sought to draw a parallel between the events of the past days and Vilda, whose leadership of the Spain team has proved controversial. Last year 15 players refused to play for Vilda, complaining about his tactics, training methods and style of management. “We have been through a lot, they have wanted to do to you the same thing that they are doing to me now.”
Despite widespread analysis that the women’s team won the World Cup in spite of Vilda, Rubiales said he was working to have the coach’s contract extended for another four years with an improved €500,000-per-year salary.
He argued that the kiss planted on Hermoso was consensual and that there was “no dominance”, claiming he had asked her if he could give her a little peck. “She said OK.”
He likened the kiss to one he would give his daughters – a claim seemingly contradicted by a joke Rubiales made soon after the kiss about marrying Hermoso. Minutes after the kiss – delivered on stage during the official post-match ceremony – was captured on camera, Hermoso said on a live stream afterwards that she “didn’t like it”.
Days later her union, Futpro, which Hermoso has said is representing her interests in this case, said it was working to ensure that “acts like the ones we witnessed don’t go unpunished, are sanctioned, and that pertinent measures are adopted to protect the soccer players against actions that are unacceptable”.
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The Fifa disciplinary committee on Thursday informed Rubiales that his actions in Sydney may have violated its disciplinary code. The world football governing body’s intervention came after days of pressure, including strong rebukes from the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, the world players’ union, Fifpro, and a number of leading figures in football.
In addition the Futpro union in Spain had expressed its “firm and resounding condemnation” for behaviour “which violates the dignity of women”.
