"I'm not resigning." Luis Rubiales repeated it loudly, five times. The president of the Spanish Football Federation, after days of storm for kissing the national player without her consent, had leaked in recent days that he would leave . Then yesterday the twist at the Federation assembly: not only did he not give up his office, but he went on the attack, defining himself as the victim of "false feminism" and going into total confrontation with the vast majority of Spanish society.
A frontal challenge, based on values, against the common sense of an entire country that has already rejected Rubiales' conduct. The government's reaction was clear-cut . Sanchez's executive announced immediate measures: «Rubiales was not up to the situation - said Sport undersecretary Victor Francos - in the eyes of the government, the Spanish club and the champions themselves. The government intends to act. His journey is over: we will suspend him from his duties".
And today, however, the suspension of Fifa arrived for him.
In the coming days, the administrative courts will examine the many complaints already filed and the sentences seem obvious in favor of his suspension. But at this point it seems that the move by this controversial sports executive aims at more than just retaining an armchair. The progressive government has caught it in full, so much so that Francos has always clearly stated that this story must become " the Me Too of Spanish football ".
The kiss "was spontaneous, reciprocal and consensual, the same as the one I could have given to my daughter," Rubiales reiterated . And then he went further, trying to embarrass the very person who suffered that kiss, Jenni Hermoso. «She came up to me first, I told her to forget about the missed penalty and we hugged. I asked her for a kiss and she said it was fine." Words that provoked a compact and indignant reaction from the whole team . One after the other - from Alexia Putellas, twice Ballon d'Or, to midfielder Aitana - they all rose up in defense of their partner, ordering Rubiales to put an end to the lies. In a joint statement they threatened never to take the field again "if the current managers remain in office" , a reference obviously to the federal president but also to coach Jorge Vilda. While Hermoso blatantly denied the version of the consensual kiss : "At no time did I consent" , he specified.
But the protest is not just about them and is involving all of Spanish football. The head of the women's sector has resigned, many regional federations have distanced themselves, the same has been done by various clubs, starting with Real Madrid. Borja Iglesias, Betis striker, has even announced that he will no longer wear the national team shirt if things don't change. Even Iberia, one of the most important sponsors of the "Roja", has disheartened Rubiales: "When offensive situations occur, inappropriate for a developed, modern and egalitarian society like the Spanish one - the Madrid national airline said -, Iberia supports the appropriate and relevant measures that must be taken to preserve the rights and dignity of athletes".
(Unioneonline/vl)