FIFA has launched an investigation against Spanish soccer federation president, Luis Rubiales, after he kissed Spain women’s national team midfielder, Jennifer Heromoso, following the 1-0 win over England in the Women’s World Cup final.
This move by FIFA is not surprising at all given what happened during Spain’s trophy celebration after winning the World Cup. When Hermoso, the lone goal scorer in the game, went to receive her gold medal, Rubiales kissed her on the lips – which Hermoso did not consent to, as she said “Hey, I didn’t like it, eh,” later on in an Instagram live video.
It appears that Rubiales will more than likely face some sort of punishment due to his actions. Though he has since apologised, the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, believes that his apology was nowhere near enough.
“The apologies made by Mr Rubiales are not enough. I even think that they are not appropriate and that, therefore, Mr Rubiales needs to continue to take steps to clarify what we all saw,” Sanchez said.
In addition to Sanchez’ statements about the situation, the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) also released a statement: “The physical gestures directed towards any person, in this case a
footballer, are never appropriate or acceptable in whichever context without the express consent of the affected person.”
“It’s especially serious given what happened with Jennifer Hermoso who found herself in a state of clear vulnerability before a person in a position of power over her who initiated an approach or realising a physical gesture.”
“We maintain our asking of the resignation of the gentleman, who belittled and assaulted a woman. His excuses serve absolutely nothing.”
Meanwhile, all of Spain’s national women’s football coaching staff except for the chief have stepped down after the kissing scandal.
Eleven members of the Spanish women’s team coaching staff tendered their resignations on Saturday, expressing “their firm and categorical condemnation of Luis Rubiales’ behaviour towards Jenni Hermoso”.
Without his deputies, Coach Jorge Vilda remains in place. However, he distanced himself from Rubiales on Saturday evening, “I regret that the victory of women’s soccer has been tarnished by the inappropriate behaviour shown and acknowledged by our most senior manager up to that point, Luis Rubiales,” he said in a statement picked up by several Spanish outlets.
The eleven staff members described the attitude of Rubiales as “unacceptable.”
FIFA suspended Rubiales on Saturday from all football-related activity for 90 days pending inquiries, a decision that has won support from the Spanish government.
“We totally respect FIFA’s decision,” Spain’s Secretary of State for Sport, Victor Francos, told reporters. “It reinforces our government’s position regarding the path we have started in this case. It goes in agreement with the highest spheres of international football. It says that the path chosen by the Spanish government is the right one.”
Rubiales faces inquiries by FIFA and the Spanish Football Federation, but can only be forced out by a legal verdict. —Onefootball.com
