Set on fire, the president of the Spanish Football Federation kissed the meritorious players, refused to resign, and had a showdown with the government
The president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, was denounced and pressured to resign and apologize after the Spanish women's team won the World Cup for kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso on the lips, but he refused to step down, saying he was ready for a showdown with the government.
Speaking Friday at an emergency meeting of Spain's Free Federation, Luis Rubiales complained that "fake feminists" were "trying to kill him." He described the kiss as a "gentle touch" that was "spontaneous, mutual, euphoric, and consensual." He said, "Will I leave here if both parties agree?" I will not resign. I will fight to the end. ”
When Rubiales said so, he won applause from a predominantly male audience.
But the Spanish government said it would take the incident to a sports court and if the trial proves that the kiss was involuntary, he could stand trial under a sexual violence law proposed by the Socialist Party last year.
However, the speech of the president of the Spanish Football Federation was immediately condemned by the acting labor minister, Yolanda Diaz, calling it "unacceptable". "The government must act and take urgent measures: impunity for masculinity is over," Diaz wrote on social media. Ruviales can no longer be on duty. ”
Ermoso was the first to initiate physical contact, and she lifted his hips to lift him off the ground, said in his speech. He said he asked Hermoso if he could give her a "gentle kiss" and she said "okay".
Criticism of Ruviales' actions grew in the week following the World Cup final in Sydney, Australia, where Ruviales beat England 1-0 while the players were collecting their medals. As the players lined up, Ruviales grabbed Hermoso's head and placed a kiss on her mouth.
Hermoso said in a statement on Wednesday that her union was working to defend her interests, saying such acts "should never go unpunished" before FIFA launched disciplinary proceedings against him on Thursday.
According to Reuters, Rubiales initially reacted provocatively to the strong criticism, calling his critics "idiots." But he quickly backtracked, posting a video of an apology recorded while flying back from Sydney.
But his apology was apparently not taken seriously, as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called his apology "inadequate". Regional leaders of the Spanish Football Federation held a crisis meeting in Madrid on Thursday to begin discussing Rubiales' future and the choice of a potential successor.
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