The Spanish association president Luis Rubiales has refused to resign after the kissing scandal at the World Cup. “I’m not resigning. I’ll fight to the end,” said the 46-year-old on Friday at an extraordinary general assembly of the Spanish federation RFEF. He sees himself as a victim. “This is not about justice, but about a social execution,” Rubiales said.
It was “a spontaneous, mutual and consensual kiss,” said the head of the association. Rubiales also described the pressure exerted on him this week as an attempt to “murder me in public”.
However, Rubiales did not show himself in his speech on Friday, which was delivered with pathos. “False feminism isn’t looking for the truth, it’s trying to wear a medal and think we’re moving forward. They don’t care about the people,” he said, lamenting a hunt. “By mutual consent, should a kiss get me out of here? I’ll fight to the end.”
Rubiales apologized for his gesture in the VIP stand when he cheered his crotch just a few meters away from Spain’s Queen Letizia. This happened “in a moment of euphoria. I was so emotional that I lost control and put my hands there.”
Fifa is now also investigating Rubiales
The official kissed the player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth without being asked at the award ceremony for the Spanish soccer world champions in Australia on Sunday. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke of an “unacceptable gesture”, Felix Bolanos, Minister of the Presidential Office, threatened on Thursday that the government would act if the association did not take the necessary steps.
Fifa also got involved on Thursday. The world association opened disciplinary proceedings and is examining a possible violation of Article 13 of its own regulations. “FIFA reaffirms its unconditional commitment to respecting the integrity of all individuals and therefore strongly condemns any conduct to the contrary,” it said in a statement.
After the incident in Sydney, Hermoso said in an Instagram live stream that she “didn’t like” the action. The association later published a message with statements from her that put it into perspective. Whether these were coordinated with Hermoso is unclear, media reports indicate that the quotes were distributed without Hermoso’s consent. In any case, during the week Hermoso called for “exemplary measures” against the head of the association in a statement with the players’ union Futpro.
Rubiales was elected president of the Spanish federation in May 2018. The official also sits as Vice President on the Uefa Executive Committee, the European Football Union has not yet commented on the incident.