Despite a significant outcry in the wake of his kissing and groping controversy at the Women’s World Cup final, disgraced Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has refused to quit his position.
During the awards ceremony for the Women’s World Cup championship, Rubiales sparked controversy when he was seen holding Jenni Hermoso by the head and kissing her on the lips.
In a spectacular tirade on Friday, the 46-year-old refused to leave his position despite widespread expectations that he would do so, claiming that he was the victim of “social murder.”
At a news conference, Rubiales declared: “There are many people who, albeit hushed, are continuing to support me a lot. I was chosen by this group of people, and I have to answer to them.
“I want to thank everyone for the supportive messages you have sent my way; I have gotten many messages.
“I want to apologize for an event that occurred in the (VIP) box (at the final). I am going to explain it because I was looking at Jorge Vilda (the Spanish women’s manager). We have been through a lot together, and they have wanted to do to you the same thing that they are doing to me now, they are trying to create a false version of events and turn it into reality.
“When we won the World Cup, you (Vilda) turned around and dedicated the victory to me, and I was overcome with emotion. I apologize to Her Majesty the Queen for my action (of squeezing his testicles) there. I’ve never conducted myself in a box like this before. Sorry, I can’t justify myself.
“I want to explain the peck (little kiss), which was what happened. Since there was no dominance present, I may have had the same urge to give that kiss as I did to kiss my daughter.
It was unplanned, mutual, and voluntary. It was agreed upon. I got along well with all the players, and throughout this competition, we shared some extremely tender moments. When Jenni arrived, she lifted me off the ground and, before she went, we hugged. I begged her to forget about the penalty since she had played admirably during this World Cup, and she told me she was a star. What did I tell her to her? and that took place.
“They are committing a social murder here; they are not attempting to accomplish justice.
“For five years they have been after me with everything. Complaints, lawsuits, and requests for me to step down. False feminism does not seek the truth, it seeks to portray itself that it is moving us forward. They do not care about people.”
Hermoso, who played a key role in midfield for La Roja in the 1-0 World Cup final victory over England’s Lionesses, hit out at Rubiales’ kiss on Instagram after the game, saying: “I didn’t like it.”
Disgusted fans worldwide slammed his actions, and Rubiales – who has a history of controversy – was also criticized by Spanish government ministers. Spain’s equalities minister Irene Montero said: “It’s a form of sexual violence women suffer daily.”
Montero added that up to now it had been “invisible” and it is something “we can’t normalize”. She said: “We should not assume kissing without consent is something ‘that happens’.”
The players gave it their all to win, but there have indeed been some unacceptable behaviors that demonstrate that there is still a long way to go in our country in terms of equality, respect, and equalization of women’s rights, according to Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister of Spain, who also demanded an explanation from Rubiales.
“Excuses alone are insufficient and insufficient. To further explain what we have witnessed, Mr. Rubiales must take more action.
After the game, Rubiales expressed regret, but he was charged with assigning blame. On Monday, August 21, he admitted, “I was entirely mistaken.
“At a period when there was a lot of excitement, it was done with good intentions. We perceived it as natural at the time, but chaos has since developed outside.
I must apologize, take responsibility for my actions, and acknowledge that being president requires greater caution.
Following his actions, Rubiales came under fire on social media, with the Spanish hashtag ‘dimension ya’—which means resign now’—trending on Twitter.
