Fifa suspends Spanish football president – Xabi Alonso calls for resignation

Luis Rubiales
After the kiss scandal: Fifa suspends Spanish football president – ​​Xabi Alonso demands resignation

Luis Rubiales stubbornly refuses to resign, although he no longer has a chance and can no longer exercise his office: the disciplinary committee of the world football association Fifa has suspended the Spanish federation boss over the kiss scandal after the women’s World Cup final. This was announced by Fifa on Saturday. Rubiales is thus banned from all football-related activities at national and international level. The ban is provisional for 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings launched by Fifa on Thursday.

At the same time, the world association ordered that Rubiales may not contact national player Jennifer Hermoso or her immediate environment, either personally or through a third person. The same applies to the RFEF association and its officials and employees.

Xabi Alonso calls for resignation

Voices from Germany are now also speaking up. Bayer Leverkusen’s Spanish coach Xabi Alonso called for Rubiales’ resignation. “That was not acceptable,” said the former world and European champion before the Bundesliga game at Borussia Mönchengladbach on TV broadcaster Sky: “It’s clear: he can’t stay in this situation.” All people could have seen what happened, Alonso added.

The German record national player Lothar Matthäus agreed with the Bayer coach. “There is no other way than to clear the space,” said the Sky expert. Former international Julia Simic said: “You almost feel sorry for the Spaniards because they have achieved something historic but have to deal with such uncomfortable issues.” It’s good that there’s “such an echo” from politics and the media, Simic added: “It’s important to take the right actions and thus release someone from their job.”

DFB women make a clear statement

The German women’s national team also joined the chorus of critics. The team around captain Alexandra Popp showed solidarity with the player Hermoso. “Such behavior is unacceptable and it is even more intolerable to downplay it and put pressure on the player. Nobody, absolutely nobody should dismiss this as a trifle,” says an open account published on Popp’s Instagram account, among other things Letter signed “Team Council of the German Women’s National Soccer Team”.

In Spain, almost the entire coaching team of the Spanish national team has now resigned in solidarity with Hermoso. Head coach Jorde Vilda, who has been firmly attached to the controversial head of the association, lost his entire team, as the Spanish newspaper “Mundo Deportivo” and other media reported on Saturday. Coaches of youth teams have also joined the move, including Sonia Bermúdez and Kenio Gonzalo, who are responsible for the U19 and U17 teams.

FIFA suspends Rubiales

Rubiales kissed the player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth at the award ceremony after winning the World Cup final last Sunday. The disciplinary committee of the world association Fifa has therefore temporarily suspended the 46-year-old and initiated disciplinary proceedings. Rubiales has now admitted a mistake, but the association boss refused to resign at the extraordinary general meeting on Friday.

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DPA