(Madrid) The forced kiss scandal continues to shake the world of Spanish football: after the refusal on Friday to resign from Luis Rubiales, boss of the federation, the players of the selection took up the cause of Jenni Hermoso and announced that they would no longer play with La Roja if the current management was maintained.
What is already dubbed the “
The 23 players of the Spanish national team, crowned world champions on Sunday in Australia, announced in a statement from the Futpro union that they refused to play again with La Roja “if the current leaders [were] maintained”. The text, already signed by 81 players, remains open to other signatures, the union said.
In the same press release, Jenni Hermoso indicated that she had “at no time consented to this kiss”: “I do not tolerate anyone questioning my word, let alone making up comments that I didn’t say”.
Enough to completely dismantle the defense of Luis Rubiales, who refused to resign from his post a few hours earlier before the extraordinary general meeting of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) meeting near Madrid.
In office since 2018, the former defender launched a counterattack, saying the kiss was, according to him, “reciprocal” and “consensual” and that he had obtained permission to do so, while castigating “false feminism”.
Father of three daughters, Mr. Rubiales on the other hand asked “forgiveness to the Queen” Letizia for his gesture on the balcony of the Sydney stadium, when he had grabbed his genitals, when he was less than two meters away from her.
“What we saw today at the Federation Assembly is unacceptable […]. It is the end of impunity for macho acts. Rubiales cannot stay in his post,” Ms. Díaz reacted immediately on X (ex-Twitter), demanding “urgent action” from the government.
Since this sensational announcement, many voices have been raised to condemn the attitude of Mr. Rubiales, like FC Barcelona footballer Alexia Putellas, double Ballon d’Or.
” This is unacceptable. Let’s get it over with. I’m with you dear Jenni Hermoso,” she said on X.
Other Spanish players came out of the silence, denouncing “intolerable” behavior and supporting Hermoso, while the hashtag “
“Out of respect for football. That’s enough ! It’s time for that to change for good,” X Women’s Professional Soccer League wrote.
For his part, former Real Madrid and ‘Roja’ goalkeeper Iker Casillas spoke of ‘total shame’ about Rubiales while Betis striker Borja Iglesias announced he would no longer wear the jersey. the National team.
Even some clubs were indignant, such as Espanyol Barcelona who said they were waiting for “measures” from the federation or even Sevilla FC who considers “not to feel represented” by the boss of Spanish football and asks for his resignation .
Barça, former club of Hermoso, launched a half-hearted condemnation, deploring “regrettable facts” and unjustifiable. The Catalan club notes, however, that “Mr. Rubiales himself acknowledged an error and apologized for it”.
The affair broke out as Spain is a candidate, along with Portugal and Morocco, for the organization of the 2030 Men’s World Cup, which will be awarded at the end of next year.
Mr. Rubiales had been filmed during the celebration of the victory of the female “Roja” over England in the final of the World Cup, kissing Jenni Hermoso on the mouth in surprise.
He issued an apology on Monday, saying it was a gesture “without any bad intentions”.
But the condemnations of the Spanish political class, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and football circles, including the famous American player Megan Rapinoe, have only amplified.
The case eventually escalated to FIFA, which launched disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Rubiales on Thursday.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas harshly attacked his counterpart on Friday: “The list of women and men offended in recent years by Luis Rubiales is too long, it must stop”.
The High Council for Sports, a government body, has announced that it will take the case to the Administrative Court for Sports in the coming days.
If the court finds the kiss to be a fault under the professional sports code, the Higher Sports Council, a state body, could then suspend Mr. Rubiales from his duties.
Kissing someone without their consent is considered sexual assault in Spain.
