BREAKING NEWS: Spain’s ‘kiss-gate’ FA president Luis Rubiales is forced out of his job after Women’s World Cup final scandal – and unpopular winning manager Jorge Vilda could follow him
- Rubiales has been forced out of his position as Spanish Football Federation chief
- It followed an emergency meeting on Friday after a chorus of condemnation
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Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been forced out following his offensive behaviour at the Women’s World Cup final.
Rubiales sparked outrage when he kissed Spanish player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth as she collected her medal following the 1-0 win over England in Sydney.
Footage also emerged that showed Rubiales grabbing his crotch while standing near Queen Letizia of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter Princess Infanta Sofia.
Having initially branded his detractors as ‘idiots’, Rubiales has ultimately bowed to mounting pressure and has stepped down from his position to be replaced by Pedro Rocha.
The unpopular Spain women’s team coach Jorge Vilda could also leave his post, according to Diario AS.
Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales arrives at their headquarters for Friday’s emergency meeting – he has been forced out of his role
Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been pushed out after his controversial on-the-mouth kiss of player Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s World Cup triumph
Rubiales sparked more outrage after footage emerged of him grabbing his crotch while celebrating Spain’s win in the vicinity of Spanish Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter
Rubiales pleaded forgiveness for his actions but has now left his position
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It was announced on Thursday that FIFA had opened disciplinary proceedings against the football chief, who had been clinging on to his position.
Reports emerged in the Spanish press on Thursday that Rubiales was considering his position after Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez demanded an explanation.
Despite his confidence he could turn the situation around, Rubiales has now departed as the furore over the 46-year-old’s behaviour rumbled on.
Rubiales will, however, keep his lucrative £214,000-a-year role as a vice-president for European football’s governing body UEFA.
Vilda was closely linked to Rubiales but he was accused of creating a controlling environment with Mundo Deportivo reporting he forced players to keep the doors of their rooms open so he could check they’d gone to sleep.
Vilda also allegedly checked the players’ bags when they returned from shopping trips and demanded they inform him who they were meeting outside of the team camp.
In 2022, 15 players wrote to the Spanish FA making themselves unavailable for selection while Vilda was in charge.
Footage emerged of Vilda appearing to touch a female staff member on the breast after Spain scored their winning goal in the final.
Rubiales also carried Spanish player Athenea del Castillo Beivide during the celebrations
Rubiales (right) pictured with Spain’s Queen Letizia and FIFA president Gianni Infantino after their 1-0 win over England in last Sunday’s final
Rubiales has been condemned by a variety of organisations within Spanish football, including FUTPRO – the union that represents Hermoso – and the women’s football league, Liga F, who lodged a complaint with the president of the country’s sports council [CSD].
Hermoso had rejected the invitation to appear in Rubiales’ apology video, despite his pleas that ‘my position is at stake, do it for my daughters.’
Several clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Getafe, had called on him to stand down.
The decision comes following an emergency meeting of the Spanish Football Federation on Friday.
FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales on Thursday under Article 13 of their code of conduct, which refers to ‘offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play.’
Earlier in the week, he tried to defuse the situation by releasing an apology video, saying: ‘I have made a mistake and I have to admit it. It wasn’t done in bad faith; it was a moment of great emotion.’
Then damning footage emerged of Rubiales grabbing his crotch in the wild scenes of celebration that greeted Spain’s victory at Stadium Australia.
The Spanish Queen and her daughter were just a few metres away in the stands.
United States legend Megan Rapinoe described the moment as ‘a signal of a deep level of misogyny and sexism,’ and insisted his kiss of Hermoso was ‘physical assault.’
Rubiales embraces Spanish player Aitana Bonmati during the presentation ceremony
Rubiales hugs Alba Redondo amid Spain’s celebrations after winning the Women’s World Cup
Attacking midfielder Hermoso, who plays for CF Pachuca, admitted she ‘didn’t like’ it when Rubiales grabbed her and held her in a tight embrace before kissing her on the lips on the celebratory podium after the match, for which he later reluctantly apologised despite initially defending his behaviour.
Spanish football chief Miguel Ángel Galán has now filed a complaint to the Prosecutor’s Office in Madrid and the State Attorney General’s Office alleging Rubiales’ actions constituted sexual assault.
Galan, president of CENAFE – the country’s national school for football coaches – said: ‘I would like to file a complaint against Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Soccer Federation, for committing an alleged crime of sexual assault against the Spanish women’s soccer team’s Jennifer Hermoso.
‘This was an intolerable act of sexist behaviour within our sport, which could constitute an alleged crime of sexual assault. I therefore request that a complaint be filed’.
Galan had already submitted a written complaint to Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD) and the Spanish FA (RFEF) itself, with his latest actions pursuing the criminal route.
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