football
Spain’s football boss Rubiales resigns after kissing scandal
Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation RFEF, resigns after the kissing scandal at the Women’s World Cup. photo
© RFEF/Europa Press/AP/dpa
Now he is drawing conclusions from the kissing scandal. Luis Rubiales resigns as president of the Spanish Football Federation: ‘I cannot continue my work’
Three weeks after the kissing scandal Luis Rubiales drew the consequences. The 46-year-old, who had initially vehemently ruled out resigning, gave up his position as president of the Spanish Football Association, as well as his vice-presidency in the European Football Union.
After Rubiales announced his retirement in an episode of the talk show Piers Morgan Uncensored that has not yet aired in its entirety, the Spanish federation confirmed his decision in a statement. Rubiales submitted his resignation on Sunday evening, the brief statement said.
“I can’t continue my work,” he said on “Piers Morgan Uncensored.” He spoke to his father, his daughters and also to close friends. It’s not just about him, said Rubiales. His aggressive behavior at the award ceremony in Sydney on the 20th caused massive and worldwide criticism when he kissed world champion Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth.
Hermoso had made it clear afterwards that she had not agreed to this. She said she “felt like a victim of an impulsive, sexist and inappropriate act that I didn’t agree to,” and reported Rubiales. She had previously testified at the prosecutor’s office. However, Rubiales had always emphasized that the kiss was consensual.
Rubiales was suspended for 90 days by FIFA. World association boss Gianni Infantino, who was also present at the award ceremony after the Spaniards 1-0 over England, wrote about the incident on Instagram about a week and a half after the final: “It should never have happened.” Earlier, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said in an interview with French sports newspaper L’Équipe: “Obviously what he did is inappropriate. We all know that. I hope he knows it was inappropriate.”
But Rubiales had shown no trace of insight, and certainly not of remorse. In a remarkable speech, he insisted that he wanted to remain in office. Criticism of his abusive behavior even reached the highest political levels. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: “You just have to imagine that Angela Merkel kissed Philipp Lahm like that in 2014. All hell would have broken loose or that is simply unimaginable and says it all.” How difficult is it not to kiss someone on the lips?” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Almost everyone in football showed solidarity with Hermoso, and the Spanish regional associations called for his resignation. Spain’s men’s national team recently condemned the behavior of Rubiales, whose mother went on a hunger strike to protest what she described as an “inhuman and bloody hunt” for her son. Internationally, however, there was a lot of solidarity with Hermoso and massive criticism of Rubiales.
The Spanish association, which had at times tried to discredit Hermoso, also recently apologized to the 33-year-old. In addition, coach Jorge Vilda, whose assistants had resigned in solidarity with Hermoso, was fired.
Rubiales now remains banned from all football-related activities even after his retirement. FIFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings and is expected to continue them. A multi-year ban is possible, which would prevent Rubiales from returning to another position. He has also sat on the Executive Committee of the European Football Union as UEFA Vice President since 2018.