(Madrid) Return of the world champions, candidacy for the organization of the 2030 World Cup… The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) hopes to move forward the day after the resignation of Luis Rubiales, after weeks of controversy linked to the kiss forced from the leader to Jenni Hermoso.
President suspended by FIFA, Luis Rubiales ended up throwing in the towel on Sunday, arguing that he could no longer “continue (his) work”, and sent a letter to this effect to his federation.
“It’s over,” “Rubiales resigns!” »: long-awaited, this decision made the front pages of the major Spanish sports dailies on Monday, starting with Marca, according to which the manager’s decision was “received with astonishment” but also “relief” within the RFEF.
Her initial refusal to resign during the general assembly of August 25, claiming that the evening kiss of the World Cup final was “consensual,” plunged Spanish football into crisis: 81 players and ex-players, including the 23 world champions, have announced their refusal to play in the national team.
While multiple procedures have been opened against Luis Rubiales by FIFA as well as the Spanish sports and criminal justice system, his resignation opens the way to a profound reorganization of the body.
In the coming days, the board of directors of the RFEF must thus appoint a successor, a preliminary step to the organization of elections. Will it be Pedro Rocha, who is acting as interim manager, but is considered a trusted man of Rubiales?
Rocha has already launched “restructuring measures” by parting ways with women’s coach Jorge Vilda – whose methods were criticized by his players – and appointing his assistant Montse Tomé, who had tendered his resignation to protest against the president’s attitude.
Before she can focus on the pitch, the 41-year-old ex-Barcelona player will have to convince the internationals to end their strike, preferably before the next international fixtures on September 22 and 26 against Sweden and Turkey. Switzerland, in the League of Nations.
According to the Spanish press, the world champions had already considered the change of coach “positive”, but added that the measure was insufficient to make them reconsider their decision.
Will Rubiales’ departure be decisive? According to Cadena Ser, the La Roja players believe that “we need a different federation, which respects Jenni (Hermoso) and her teammates and gives them the place they deserve”.
The RFEF would negotiate with the world champions so that they are available from Friday when the coach announces her first list. And its members “are optimistic, because they will propose real changes,” writes Ser.
The departure of Rubiales, hailed by the Spanish government as “a good decision”, also allows the RFEF to more calmly resume the thread of its candidacy for the organization of the Men’s World Cup-2030 alongside Portugal and Morocco.
“15 days ago we were in a better position for the 2030 World Cup than today,” Spanish Secretary of State for Sports Victor Francos said on August 28, while Rubiales was still clinging to his position.
According to the daily As, it was UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin who convinced Rubiales to resign, using precisely this argument.
“The UEFA president and personal friend of Luis Rubiales made him understand that his retention at the head of the RFEF could jeopardize the European bid for the 2030 World Cup”, indicates the Madrid sports daily.
“I take this decision after having received the assurance that my departure will contribute to the stability which will allow Europe and Africa to remain united in the dream of 2030”, Rubiales himself confessed on Sunday in his letter of resignation.