Embattled Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales has used his federation to accuse World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso of mendacity by saying she didn’t consent to being kissed by him.
The most recent defiant assertion from the 46-year-old got here within the early hours of Saturday morning amid mounting strain from inside Spanish soccer and the federal government for him to resign.
It was anticipated Rubiales was going to step down on Friday – earlier than happening the assault in opposition to his accusers in a speech at a federation meeting.
What occurred at Rubiales’ stunning press convention?
He insisted repeatedly that he wouldn’t resign
Stated his kiss of Hermoso was “spontaneous” and “consensual”
Claimed he’s the sufferer of a witch hunt by “false feminists”
Threatened to sue his accusers
Stated he’ll supply ladies’s head coach Jorge Vilda a brand new four-year contract
That sparked an outcry from Hermoso and her team-mates who vowed to not play for Spain once more – days after profitable the World Cup for the primary time.
In a press release on Friday night time, the 33-year-old ahead mentioned “in no second” did she consent to the kiss.
The Spanish soccer federation’s prolonged assertion confirmed a sequence of photographs claiming to be Hermoso encouraging being lifted by Rubiales.
“Mr President’s ft are ostensibly lifted from the bottom because of the participant’s motion,” the assertion mentioned.
“The checks are conclusive. Mr President has not lied.
“The RFEF and Mr President will reveal every of the lies which are unfold both by somebody on behalf of the participant or, if relevant, by the participant herself.”
There’s a menace of authorized motion – taking away from the success the federation says it desires to have fun.
The assertion mentioned: “The RFEF regrets that after a sporting success as extraordinary because the one which occurred within the World Cup, it can’t be celebrated because the state of affairs and success deserves for utterly extra-sporting causes.”
FIFA has began a case in opposition to Rubiales however UEFA – of which he’s a €250,000-a-year vice-president – has but to remark.
‘They’re making ready an execution’ – Rubiales’ astonishing rant
Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales at a unprecedented assembly of its normal meeting:
“They don’t seem to be attempting to hold out justice, that’s pretend. A social assassination is being carried out on me. They’re attempting to kill me.
“Pretend feminism doesn’t search justice, doesn’t search the reality, doesn’t care about individuals. I repeat, they’re making ready an execution.
“To those individuals who have mentioned this about me, which have accused me, which are attempting to kill me publicly… I’m going to defend myself, I’m going to defend myself like each different Spaniard ought to do within the courts.
“I’m going to take motion in opposition to them. I’m not going to resign! I’m not going to resign! I’m not going to resign! I’m not going to resign! I’m not going to resign!”
Rubiales grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the lips through the awards ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on Sunday in Sydney.
Lionesses again Hermoso
The participant mentioned she was “susceptible” and “the sufferer of an aggression”, as she and the remainder of the Spain crew revealed they won’t play any additional matches till the “federation management is eliminated”.
A complete of 56 gamers, together with the entire 23-strong World Cup-winning squad, signed the joint assertion after Rubiales refused to resign following his controversial kiss on the last.
England’s Lionesses – who have been defeated by Spain within the World Cup last – backed the gamers’ boycott, saying: “Unacceptable actions allowed to occur by a sexist and patriarchal organisation. Abuse is abuse and we’ve got all seen the reality.
“The behaviour of those that assume they’re invincible should not be tolerated and folks should not want convincing to take motion in opposition to any type of harassment.
“All of us stand with you, @jennihermoso and all gamers of the Spanish crew.”
The Spanish authorities has began authorized motion in a bid to droop Rubiales from his submit – and the top of Spain’s ladies’s soccer committee has stop his position.
Rubiales: I will not resign
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Sky Sports activities Information chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol believes Rubiales is in ‘a struggle he cannot win’
Rubiales claimed the kiss was “mutual” and “with consent” at a gathering of the Spanish soccer federation’s normal meeting on Friday.
He added that he was the sufferer of a witch hunt by “false feminists” after quickly repeating “I will not resign” quite a few instances.
Within the model of occasions Rubiales gave to the meeting, he mentioned Hermoso had lifted him up in celebration and he requested her for “somewhat kiss?” and he or she mentioned sure.
“The kiss was the identical I might give certainly one of my daughters,” Rubiales mentioned.
He mentioned that he would defend his honour in court docket in opposition to politicians, together with two ministers, who known as his kiss an act of sexual violence.
Picture:
Hermoso says she didn’t consent to be kissed by Rubiales
Spanish soccer’s ‘Me Too’?
Rubiales can’t be sacked by the federal government, however the head of the state-run Sports activities Council, Victor Francos, says it would use a authorized process in a sports activities tribunal.
“We wish this to be a ‘Me Too’ of Spanish soccer, ” mentioned Francos.
Gender points have grow to be a distinguished subject in Spain in recent times with tens of hundreds of girls participating in avenue marches protesting sexual abuse and violence.
On Friday night, individuals gathered outdoors the Spanish Soccer Federation in Madrid to protest in opposition to Rubiales, with some carrying banners or holding up pink playing cards.
‘Embarrassing’, ‘My ears are bleeding’: Soccer reacts to Rubiales’ speech
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England’s World Cup runner-up Jess Carter believes Spain’s victory within the competitors has now been tarnished by the actions of Rubiales
England defender Jess Carter, who performed the entire 90 minutes of Sunday’s last defeat, advised Sky Information Rubiales’ actions had “tarnished” the second of Spain’s victory.
“It is actually unhappy, to be sincere, that such a particular second has been tarnished, for Hermoso, for Spain, who’ve simply achieved one thing unimaginable – and it has been ruined by that second,” she mentioned.
“I did not see it reside, it wasn’t till I acquired again and noticed the images, and I mentioned ‘this cannot be actual’. It is so unacceptable, and I am unsure how he can say something aside from honest apologies. It isn’t one thing that ought to occur in any line of labor, least of all on the world stage.
“She’s been put in an nearly unimaginable place, how do you go in opposition to somebody with such energy? However on the similar time arise and say that it is not acceptable.”
Barcelona and Spain star Alexia Putellas, who posted on X, previously referred to as Twitter: “That is unacceptable. It is over. With you my team-mate @Jennihermoso.” Different team-mates rapidly adopted, together with gamers from overseas.
“I am disgusted by the general public actions of Luis Rubiales,” US worldwide Alex Morgan mentioned on X. She added that profitable a World Cup “must be top-of-the-line moments in these gamers’ lives however as a substitute it is overshadowed by assault, misogyny, and failures by the Spanish federation.”
Rubiales’ feedback weren’t well-received by quite a few former Spain internationals, with David De Gea taking to X to write down: “My ears are bleeding.”
Liga F, the Spanish ladies’s prime flight the place 22 of the World Cup profitable squad’s 24 gamers play domestically, made an unprecedented assertion of their very own on X writing: “It is time to change this eternally” close to Rubiales’ place.
Actual Betis striker Borja Iglesias, who made his debut for the nationwide aspect final yr and was in Luis de la Fuente’s final squad, has mentioned he is not going to play for his nation once more “till issues change and this kind of act doesn’t go unpunished”.
In a press release on X, the 30-year-old wrote: “As a footballer and as an individual I do not really feel represented by what occurred right this moment. Carrying the Spanish nationwide crew shirt is among the best issues that has occurred to me in my profession.
“I do not know if in some unspecified time in the future I might be an choice once more, however I’ve made the choice to not return to the nationwide crew till issues change and this kind of act doesn’t go unpunished.”