Luis Rubiales news LIVE: Spain manager Jorge Vilda set for sack but FA president clings to power
Luis Rubiales is clinging on to power as Fifa investigates his conduct but manager Jorge Vilda is set to be sacked by the Spanish Football Federation
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Luis Rubiales faces fresh criticism from his own family as the scandal surrounding the Spanish Football Federation president continues.
Rubiales’ uncle gave an explosive interview accusing his nephew of being “obsessed with power, with luxury, and with women”.
While Rubiales also sent a new video to Fifa appearing to show Jenni Hermoso laughing over his infamous kiss. In the video, Hermoso smiles as she shows her teammates a meme about the kiss to her teammates. Rubiales is still hoping to clear his name amid growing pressure to resign his post after Hermoso said the kiss was non-consensual and symptomatic of a broken culture in Spanish football.
Spain’s controversial manager Jorge Vilda meanwhile is on the verge of being sacked by the newly convened board of the Football Federation after he refused a request to resign. Follow all the latest updates from the Luis Rubiales crisis:
Uefa boss: Punishment for Rubiales should be left to Fifa
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin insists Luis Rubiales’ behaviour was “inappropriate” but has urged Fifa to finalise the disciplinary investigation into the Spanish Football Federation president.
Fifa are currently reviewing Rubiales’ behaviour over the incident involving player Jenni Hermoso.
“Of course, what he did was inappropriate. We all know it. I hope he knows it was inappropriate. This is enough for the moment because the independent disciplinary bodies will decide,” Ceferin told French newspaper L’Equipe.
“His case is in the hands of the disciplinary body of the International Federation [FIFA]. Any comments I might make would sound like pressure.
“He is suspended from all his functions, everywhere. There is no need to do it twice.”
Spain men’s coach De La Fuente: Round of applause for Rubiales was an inexcusable human error
Head coach of Spain’s men’s team Luis de la Fuente has also asked for “forgiveness” after giving shamed Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales a round of applause after he stated he would not resign for kissing player Jenni Hermoso.
Luis de la Fuente admits it was an “inexcusable human error” but also resisted any calls for himself to step down from his job.
De La Fuente said: “Almost all of us RFEF (Spanish football federation) workers went in there thinking that we were going to see the dismissal of a president and we found something completely different. It was not easy to digest. It was a situation that overwhelmed me.
“I have not felt betrayed by Luis Rubiales, but I arrived thinking that it was going to be a resignation meeting and we were shocked when we saw that it was not this way.
“I don’t have to resign, I have to ask for forgiveness. I made a mistake, an inexcusable human error. If I could go back I wouldn’t commit that act again.
“I am on the side of equality and respect. We all have to improve in terms of equality and I am the first.”
Spain men’s coach says Rubiales applause ‘unjustifiable’
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente admits he cannot justify his applause of Luis Rubiales’ speech last week.
The coach of La Furia Roja says it is “unjustifiable” and concedes the criticism he has received is “completely deserved.”
President of Spain’s women’s football committee resigns over Luis Rubiales controversy
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (Rfef) has been handed a resignation today but not the one they were expecting. It was widely expected that Luis Rubiales, the Spanish FA president, would announce his resignation in a press conference earlier this morning after questions into his conduct reached a fever pitch.
Instead, Rubiales cried ‘I am not resigning!’ five times during a chaotic press conference that saw him double down on his position saying he would fight to clear his name in court and calling out the “false feminism” trying to bring him down.
The 46-year-old has been widely criticised after kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips in the aftermath of Spain’s first-ever Women’s World Cup victory before a video later emerged of Rubiales grabbing his crotch in celebration while in close proximity to the Queen of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter.
Spain’s women’s football committee president resigns over Luis Rubiales controversy
Rafael del Amo is also the president of Spain’s Women’s football committee
Spanish FA threatens legal action over Jenni Hermoso ‘lies’ as World Cup kiss row deepens
Spain’s football federation has vowed to take legal action over “lies” as the row over its president kissing player Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup final deepened.
On Friday the president, Luis Rubiales, refused to quit after a storm of criticism, hitting out at “false feminism” and shouting “I am not resigning” in a chaotic press conference.
Spanish FA threatens legal action over Jenni Hermoso ‘lies’ in World Cup kiss row
The federation hit back after Spain’s players refused to play another international until Luis Rubiales was removed
Lionesses ‘all stand by Jenni Hermoso’ after Rubiales kiss, Ella Toone says
The Lionesses are united in their support behind Jenni Hermoso after Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football federation, kissed her at the Women’s World Cup final, Ella Toone has said.
Speaking on Tuesday morning (29 August), the England star said that her teammates “all stand by” Hermoso.
“We want the right thing to be done,” Toone added, condemning the actions of Rubiales.
“Something like that doesn’t just go away with a sorry - which he hasn’t said either - we don’t want things like this to be happening in women’s sport.”
Lionesses ‘all stand by Jenni Hermoso’ after Rubiales kiss, Ella Toone says
The Lionesses are united in their support behind Jenni Hermoso after Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football federation, kissed her at the Women’s World Cup final, Ella Toone has said. Speaking on Tuesday morning (29 August), the England star said that her teammates “all stand by” Hermoso. “We want the right thing to be done,” Toone added, condemning the actions of Rubiales. “Something like that doesn’t just go away with a sorry - which he hasn’t said either - we don’t want things like this to be happening in women’s sport.”
Uefa boss says Luis Rubiales was ‘inappropriate’ but says Fifa will decide his future
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has described the behaviour of Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales as “inappropriate” – but called for Fifa’s investigation to be allowed to run its course.
Rubiales has refused to quit for kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso after their World Cup final win over England on August 20.
All of Spain’s 23 World Cup winners, plus another 58 players, have said they will not represent their country until Rubiales has left his post.
Rubiales, 46, was provisionally suspended by world governing body Fifa on Saturday for an initial period of 90 days pending an investigation into his conduct in Sydney after Spain’s victory.
Uefa boss: Rubiales was ‘inappropriate’ but says Fifa will decide his future
Rubiales has refused to quit for kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso after their World Cup final win over England.
The one question we shouldn’t be asking about THAT World Cup kiss…
n a weirdly interesting timing of events, the same week Spanish football official Luis Rubiales kissed World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso without consent, a story began circulating online that “Jockey Sean Kirrane was left ‘surprised’ by a shock kiss from horse owner Jolene De’Lemos after he won the Ebor Festival by a length”.
It was reported that Kirrane was “taken aback by the quick scene and had a smile on his face as he basked in his moment of glory”.
Now, it’s important to point out that Kirrane has not complained or reported the kiss as non-consensual, as a sexual assault or as harmful. But the internet never skips a beat when there is an opportunity to cry “what about men”, does it?
With one, well-worn phrase, people successfully derail any topic about male violence or female sexual assault, which is (presumably) the point. Those defending Rubiales on social media have used the video of De’Lemos running up to Kirrane and kissing him to detract from Hermoso’s complaints against Rubiales.
Opinion: The one question we shouldn’t be asking about THAT World Cup kiss…
…is ‘What about the male jockey kissed on the lips by a female horse owner?’, says psychologist Dr Jessica Taylor
England boss Sarina Wiegman: The issues around the Spanish team really hurts me
England coach Sarina Wiegman said the crisis surrounding Spanish football in the wake of their World Cup win “really hurts” and shows there is still a “long way to go” in the women’s game and society.
Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by FIFA for an initial period of 90 days, pending an investigation into his behaviour at the World Cup final earlier this month when he kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy and medals presentation.
Hermoso has said she did not consent to the kiss, and along with her 22 squad mates, has said she will not play for the national team until Rubiales resigns.
England boss Sarina Wiegman: The issues around the Spanish team really hurts me
Wiegman dedicated her UEFA’s Women’s Coach of the Year award to Spain’s players.
Lionesses captain Leah Williamson labels Luis Rubiales kiss ‘disgusting’
Leah Williamson has condemned the “awful ordeal” Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso has faced after she was kissed by Luis Rubiales at the Women’s World Cup final.
“I think how sad that must be for her. The greatest sporting achievement of her life and it’s been completely overshadowed,” the Lionesses captain told The News Agents podcast.
“It’s disgusting and it’s the result of a sexist and misogynistic environment leading to treating people a way in which is just not appropriate.”
Williamson also praised Hermoso for her “bravery” in reporting the incident, in which she was grabbed and kissed on the lips.
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