The kiss of Luis Rubiales resulted in a serious crisis in Spanish football

The scandal associated with the act of the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, who publicly kissed the captain of the women’s team of the country, Jennifer Hermoso, after winning the World Cup, escalated to the limit. Despite the sanctions of the International Football Federation (FIFA), which temporarily suspended Mr. Rubiales from his activities, and the demands to resign from the representatives of the Spanish authorities, the head of RFEF expressed his firm intention to keep his position, appealing to the courts. His stubbornness has already led to a crisis. Immediately, 11 federation specialists working in women’s football resigned in protest against the actions of Luis Rubiales, and the national team players went on strike.

The Spanish Football Federation has launched an internal investigation into compliance with the part of its regulations that relates to various manifestations of “sexual violence” by the president of the structure, Luis Rubiales. It will be conducted by the commission of Maria Dolores Martinez Madrona. This is the most recent link in the chain of high-profile events that have taken shape almost in the main football scandal of the year.

It erupted shortly after last Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final in Australia. Spanish team in it overcame Englishwomen, but it was not her victory that turned into the most discussed topic, but a strong kiss at the awards ceremony, with which the joyful Luis Rubiales awarded the captain of the Spaniards, 33-year-old Jennifer Hermoso.

Ms. Hermoso then stated that Mr. Rubiales kissed her without consent, that she did not like the act of a well-known functionary, called it an act of “impulsive sexism” and equated it with violence committed against her.

And the words of the football player were the reason for the condemnation of the president of RFEF by many representatives of the Spanish and world football communities, as well as the Spanish government. At the same time, the degree of scandal rose almost daily, reaching an alarming level last weekend.

On Saturday, the International Football Federation made a decision for a period of 90 days remove Luis Rubiales from “any activity related to football, nationally and internationally.” Moreover, during this period of time, which is necessary for FIFA to complete the investigation, as it is called in the press, “the kissing incident”, Mr. Rubiales is forbidden to have contact with Jennifer Hermoso and her “inner circle”. Usually, such FIFA decisions, despite their formally “intermediate” nature, mean the collapse of a career for an official. But the case of Luis Rubiales was too special.

The fact is that the president of the RFEF, instead of submitting to public opinion, actually declared a war on it, similar to a war against modern interpretations of sexism in principle.

Ignoring numerous calls – direct and veiled – to agree to resign, Luis Rubiales at Friday’s emergency meeting of the federation repeated four times that he “won’t quit.” On the contrary, Mr. Rubiales himself is going to prove in court not only his innocence, but also the guilt of Jennifer Hermoso, who “lied”, in his opinion. According to the functionary, the already famous kiss took place “spontaneously” and, contrary to the statements of the football player, by mutual agreement.

At the same time, there are signs hinting that RFEF leaders still sympathize with him in the conflict, and not with Ms. Hermoso. This attitude is evidenced by the statement made public by the federation. It explicitly refers to the emotionality of the moment that justifies Luis Rubiales and expresses regret that the “extraordinary sporting success” “cannot be celebrated as it deserves”. In addition, the statement is accompanied by four photos. In the federation’s eyes, they portray the kiss in a whole new light. In these photographs, in fact, it is rather not the football player who is in the arms of Mr. Rubiales, but Mr. Rubiales is in the tight embrace of the football player. His legs are even slightly off the ground. RFEF believes this was “due to the actions” of Jennifer Hermoso. That is, in fact, she, and not Luis Rubiales, used force at the ceremony.

Whatever the outcome of the dispute between the supporters of Mr. Rubiales and Mrs. Hermoso, it has already resulted in a grandiose crisis in Spanish football.

After Luis Rubiales refused the option of resigning, 11 RFEF specialists who worked with women’s teams of different ages, including the entire headquarters of the national team, with the exception of its head coach Jorge Vilda, immediately left in protest. Mr. Vilda has always been considered a friend of Mr. Rubiales. And the BBC notes that the other day the president of the federation promised him a four-year contract worth €500,000 a year, fantastically profitable by the standards of women’s football. Jorge Vilda last year, by the way, also experienced an unpleasant story with “gender” overtones. 15 players of the national team were notified that they could refuse to play for her if their “concern” about the “emotional state” and “health” of the team was not taken into account.

Then everything was limited to threats. Now the players of the Spanish national team have indeed announced a strike, which will be completed only after Luis Rubiales leaves his post. In response, RFEF reminded them of the regulations, according to which playing for the national team is not only a privilege, but also a “duty” of the players.

Alexey Dospekhov