Luis Rubiales will his term as President of Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) this Friday, August 25, after more than 5 years at the helm of the institution. The 45-year-old manager is set to leave the presidency amid recent criticism and stubborn questions after she kissed Jennifer Hermoso without consent during the Spain team’s awards ceremony for winning the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Five days after the biggest success in the history of the Spanish women’s team, Rubiales decided to resign after a meeting “with his closest associates”, a decision he will announce at a general assembly this Friday.
Luis Rubiales’ insults to those who criticized him, the subsequent apology that would have been unconvincing, the pressure on Jenni Hermoso to appear in the video of her defense, the player’s alleged statements in his favor released by the Spanish FA – which was ultimately an invention of the institution – and the disciplinary file opened by FIFA ultimately unleashed pressure from all sectors of Spanish society against the manager.
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Criticism ranged from President Pedro Sánchez, who condemned the incident and assured that Rubiales’ apologies were not “sufficient or appropriate”, to former Real Madrid player Iker Casillas, who questioned whether he had resigned after the incident .
What did Spanish President Pedro Sánchez say after Rubiales’ action?
The President attended a ceremony honoring the Spain women’s team after winning the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. In part of his speech, he strongly condemned the actions of Luis Rubiales.
“The players did everything they could to win, but there were some behaviors that show that there is still a long way to go in our country in terms of equality and respect for equality between women and men.” What we saw was an unacceptable gesture. The excuses Rubiales has offered are neither sufficient nor appropriate, so he must take further steps. “I ask that we keep the good part of it,” said the President at the ceremony in the Palacio de la Moncloa in Madrid.
When did Rubiales become President of the RFEF?
Luis Rubiales took over the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation on May 17, 2018.