(Madrid) The Spanish Prime Minister in office, Pedro Sánchez, increased the pressure on Tuesday on the president of the Spanish Football Federation, whose several ministers are asking for the resignation for having forcibly kissed on the mouth, Sunday, a player of the Spain team victorious in the Women’s World Cup.
While refraining from calling for the resignation of Luis Rubiales, Mr. Sánchez described the gesture of the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) as “unacceptable” and his apologies as “insufficient” and “inappropriate”. .
The incumbent head of government, who spoke for the first time on this subject at a press conference after being received by King Felipe VI to discuss the inauguration of the next prime minister, also called Mr. Rubiales to “go further” than his apologies.
How far ? To a journalist who asked him if he wanted Mr. Rubiales to resign, Mr. Sánchez contented himself with recalling that the Federation was not an organization under the Spanish government, in other words that he could not interfere in its affairs.
On Tuesday evening, the RFEF announced that due to the “urgency” it would hold an extraordinary general meeting on Friday devoted to this incident.
A few hours earlier, Mr. Sánchez had received the players of the “Roja” (nickname of the Spanish national teams) at La Moncloa Palace to celebrate their triumph at the World Cup, exchanging on this occasion a very brief handshake with Luis Rubiales.
Mr. Rubiales’ gesture was all the more shocking in Spain as the country has for many years been a pioneer in the fight against sexism and sexual violence.
Moreover, the outgoing leftist government of Mr. Sánchez wants to be at the forefront in this sector.
In footage shot on the podium at Sydney Stadium on Sunday night, just after the Spanish national team crowned, Mr Rubiales is seen taking striker Jennifer Hermoso’s head between his two hands, before kissing her by surprise on the mouth.
“I didn’t like it, huh!” “, reacted the Spanish N.10 in the locker room during a live broadcast on Instagram, before smiling at the goal.
She later explained, in statements released to the press by the RFEF, that it was “a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that comes from winning the World Cup”.
“The President and I have a great relationship, his behavior with all of us was perfect and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude,” she added.
Faced with the extent of the controversy on social networks and abroad, Mr. Rubiales apologized in a video, citing a “natural, normal” gesture.
“In a moment of increasing fusion, without any bad intentions, without any bad faith, well, what happened happened,” he said. And to add that “if there are people who have been hurt by this, I must apologize, there is nothing else to do”.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE), which brings together players, “demanded that the competent authorities adopt the necessary measures” in view of the “seriousness” of the incident.
“Under the protocol for action in the face of sexual violence established by the Superior Council of Sports, forcible kissing is qualified as unacceptable conduct with immediate consequences”, underlines the AFE, demanding “that the law apply in the case of Rubiales”.
“A unique and special moment of joy for Spanish footballers has been overshadowed by the inappropriate behavior of the president of the RFEF, which has reduced the visibility of the enormous sporting achievement achieved by the Spanish national team”, adds AFE. .
The AFE thus reverses the argument previously brandished by Mr. Rubiales, who had evoked a victory “marred” by the controversy.
Mr. Rubiales’ apologies were not enough to extinguish the scandal. Several Spanish ministers, including the number three in the government, the communist Yolanda Diaz, denounced his behavior and called for his resignation.
“What Rubiales did is an intolerable example of the machismo we women continue to endure,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. His apologies, she added, “are useless.”
But the most vocal was Equalities Minister Irene Montero on X: “It’s very simple. Two people kiss if they both want to, if there is consent.”
Asked by AFP, FIFA had not yet reacted on Tuesday.
