Rubiales ‘did not consent’ to kiss Jenni Hermoso.

Spain striker dismisses FA chief’s charges as ‘categorically untrue,’ as the national women’s team refuses to play until he resigns.

 

Spain striker Jenni Hermoso has stated that she did not consent to being kissed by the head of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, as the women’s squad vowed that they would not play unless he is replaced.

Rubiales has been under fire for days, as well as a Fifa inquiry, after grabbing Hermoso by the head and kissing her on the lips at the presentation of the Women’s World Cup trophy.

 

Hermoso claimed in a statement on Friday night that she felt “vulnerable and the victim of an aggression,” only hours after Rubiales pledged to continue as president of Spain’s football federation in a rambling speech in which he railed against “false feminism” and a “social assassination” of his reputation.

Rubiales also stated that he had asked Hermoso if he may kiss her. “She said OK,” he explained.

Hermoso denied that the kiss was consensual, calling Rubiales’ account “categorically false” and claiming that the “conversation did not occur.”

 

Instead, she stated that the encounter had left her in “shock,” but she was now coming up. “I feel compelled to condemn what occurred because I believe that no one, in any workplace, sport, or social setting, should be a victim of this type of non-consensual behaviour,” she stated. “I felt vulnerable and the victim of an attack, an impulsive, machista [chauvinistic] act that was out of place and without my consent.” Simply simply, I was mistreated.”

“I want to reiterate that I do not have to support the person who has committed this action against my will, without respect for me, in a historic moment for me and for women’s sport in this country,” Hermoso said.

She said she had repeatedly refused the Spanish federation’s request to produce a statement that would legitimise Rubiales’ actions and relieve pressure on the football leader. Nonetheless, she said that the federation had persisted to approach her and her friends and family. “I’m sure that as a world champion national team, we do not deserve such a manipulative, hostile, and controlling culture,” she continued.

Her declaration came shortly after a joint statement in which the World Cup champions stated that they would not return to play for the national team as long as the current leadership was in place. The declaration was signed by 56 additional female football players, in addition to the World Cup squad’s 23 members.

It also mentioned how the days-long story had an influence on La Roja’s World Cup success. “It saddens us that such an unacceptable incident has managed to tarnish the greatest sporting success of Spanish women’s football,” the statement stated.

 

Rubiales, 46, had been widely anticipated to quit, but startled many in Spain by stating unequivocally that he would not be driven out of his position by what he called a “social assassination.” “I will not resign,” he said five times to thunderous cheers. “I will fight this to the bitter end.”

‘I will not resign,’ says Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Association.

He apologised for grasping his crotch while La Roja was winning the title, calling it a “unfortunate” move performed amid the “euphoria” of the moment. The move, performed near the country’s 16-year-old princess, was allegedly intended as a compliment to the team’s coach, Jorge Vilda. “I have to apologise to the royal family,” he stated. “It wasn’t very edifying.”

 

Rubiales’ belligerent and meandering speech elicited a strong reaction. The Spanish government announced on Friday that it would take urgent legal action to fulfil an earlier threat to remove Rubiales if the federation, which has just six women among its 140 members, did not act.

“What we saw today at the federation’s assembly is unacceptable,” Yolanda Daz, Spain’s caretaker government’s labour minister and second deputy prime minister, stated on social media. “The government must act quickly and decisively: impunity for chauvinistic behaviour is no longer an option.” Rubiales cannot remain in his post.”

Several high-  ranking members of the federation,  notably Rafael del Amo, who handled  women’s football, and a number  of others who represented the organisation in areas around the nation, are also said to have resigned, implying dissatisfaction within the federation over Rubiales’ attitude. Hermoso referenced the women’s team’s long-running  struggle for equal  treatment within the federation  in her statement on Friday,  citing difficulties such as lower pay  and the idea  that  they are not  completely  supported  by the organisation.

“This type of incident joins a long list of situations that we as players have been denouncing in recent years,” she added. “This incident was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and it was visible to everyone.” But attitudes like this have long been a part of the national team’s daily routine.”