Sports
Spanish Football Chief Rubiales Refuses To Resign Over Player Kiss
Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales refused to resign on Friday after a week of widespread criticism for his unsolicited kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s Women’s World Cup triumph.
Rubiales, 46, had been expected to step down as president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after government ministers and figures within sport demanded his resignation and world football’s governing body FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against him.
But he was defiant in a speech at an emergency meeting of the football federation.
“I will not resign, I will not resign, I will not resign,” shouted Rubiales
“A consensual ‘peck’ is enough to get me out of here? I will fight until the end,” he added.
Rubiales said the pressure he has received this week from politicians and clubs was an attempt “to publicly assassinate me” and said he would defend himself by “taking action” against those people.
His words were applauded by controversial Spain’s women’s coach Jorge Vilda, as well as several others at the meeting.
The RFEF chief claimed his kiss on Hermoso’s lips was consensual and done in the same spirit as kissing his child.
“It was a spontaneous kiss, mutual, euphoric, and consensual,” said Rubiales.
Hermoso had released a statement Wednesday saying women players’ union Futpro were defending her interests. Futpro said Rubiales’ actions should not go “unpunished”.
On Friday, the RFEF chief railed against “false feminism” and said he had been “hunted” since taking the job in May 2018.
“When I make a mistake it hurts me and I ask for forgiveness without softening it, but I do not deserve this hunt that I have been suffering for five years, every day for five years.
“I’m going to keep fighting like my parents taught me, like my coaches, my teammates.”
Rubiales referred to his critics and insisted his kiss could not be compared to sexual assault.
“For god’s sake, what will women think who have really been sexually assaulted?” said Rubiales.
His refusal to resign and his fiery speech prompted a rapid reaction from politicians.
“What we have seen today at the federation assembly is unacceptable,” wrote second deputy prime minister Yolanda Diaz on social network X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The government must act and take urgent measures: impunity for macho actions is over. Rubiales cannot continue in office.”
Spain’s High Council of Sport (CSD) said it would take action against Rubiales.
“As of this moment, I have just activated all the instruments within the CSD to take the appropriate measures that are in our hands,” CSD president Victor Francos told radio station Cadena Ser.
“(We will) analyse the complaints, analyse the case … they have not formally sent us a report, but I said that this was not going to delay the process.”
He continued: “Today I can already announce that we are going to take the case to the TAD (Spain’s sports court) … I am sincerely surprised.”
‘Embarrassment’
Spain’s defender #20 Rocio Galvez is congratulated by President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales (R) next to Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso after winning the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup final football match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia in Sydney on August 20, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
La Liga president Javier Tebas, who has frequently sparred with Rubiales and the RFEF, was heavily critical.
“The misogynistic gestures, foul expressions, disastrous protocol and insults of this latest global embarrassment come as no surprise,” said Tebas on X.
“The list of women and men wronged by Luis Rubiales in these years is too long and this must stop.”
Rubiales did offer one apology — for grabbing his crotch during the celebrations of the 1-0 win against England in the final while standing next to Spain’s Queen Letizia.
“I want to say sorry for the deeds that happened in a moment of euphoria, I grabbed that part of my body and did so looking at Jorge Vilda (the coach),” he said on Friday.
“I was so emotional, I lost control and I took my hands there.”
Along with the presidents of Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad and Sevilla, among other clubs, the Spanish players’ association (AFE), which Rubiales formerly chaired, had called for him to step down.
“In the event that Mr. Rubiales does not resign immediately, the AFE demands that the (relevant sports law) be applied,” said the association in a statement Tuesday.
“We demand that the relevant authorities adopt the necessary and forceful measures that an episode of these characteristics deserves due to its seriousness.”
Rubiales also said he had started the process of offering coach Vilda a new deal on a 500,000-euro ($540,000) salary.
Spain arrived at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand shrouded in controversy, after 15 players refused to play because of disagreements with the federation and complaints about Vilda’s methods, although some relented and three formed part of the winning squad.
The Chairman of Agbele Sporting, Hon. Ponmile Omidiji, has rejoiced with and extended warm felicitations to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Remo Stars Football Club, Hon. Kunle Soname, on the occasion of his birthday.
This was contained in a statement personally signed by Omidiji and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday.
The statement reads: “It is my greatest pleasure to felicitate with you, the man of the masses and a philanthropist par excellence, on your day of birth.
“You are a morale booster and a great motivator to this generation. You always utilise any position you occupy for the benefit of others. Indubitably, you are a good man and worthy of emulation,” he added.
Omidiji also seized the opportunity to commend Hon. Soname’s contributions and tireless efforts towards the development of football in Nigeria and beyond, noting that such commitment is truly appreciated.
He offered heartfelt prayers for the celebrant, praying that Almighty God would continue to bless and protect him, that God’s grace would abound in his life, and that all his concerns would be firmly in God’s hands. He further wished that the world would always be kind to him.
Christian Chukwu, former captain and head coach of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, has died at the age of 74.
The football icon passed away in the early hours of Saturday, though the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear at the time of reporting.
The news of his demise was confirmed by his longtime friend and teammate, Chief Olusegun Odegbami, who spoke to Channels Television. Odegbami, who played alongside Chukwu in Nigeria’s triumphant 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad, expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
“I just received the news that between 9:00 and 10:00 this morning, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, MFR, my bosom friend and teammate, one of the greatest football players in Nigeria’s history, has passed on,” said Odegbami.
“Babuje, Emmanuel Okala, MON, gave me the sad news a few minutes ago. May ‘Onyim’ find peace with Our Creator in Heaven and console his family,” he added.
Born on 4 January 1951 in Enugu, Chukwu carved a legendary career in Nigerian football, notably captaining Enugu Rangers to numerous domestic triumphs and leading them to continental glory in 1977 with victory in the now-defunct African Cup Winners’ Cup.
He made history in 1980 as the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy following a 3–0 win over Algeria in the final held in Lagos.
Chukwu went on to contribute to Nigeria’s football success off the pitch, serving as assistant to Dutch tactician Clemens Westerhof during the Super Eagles’ victorious 1994 AFCON campaign and their debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup the same year.
As head coach, Chukwu led the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. His tenure as national coach lasted from 2002 to 2005, ending during the qualification phase for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Nicknamed “Chairman” for his commanding presence on and off the pitch, Chukwu also played a role in Nigeria’s youth football development, working as assistant coach during the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Cup, which Nigeria won in China.
In 2019, he battled prostate cancer, which affected his mobility. A public appeal for support was launched, and Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola stepped in to cover his overseas medical expenses, reportedly donating $50,000 for his treatment.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes Marcus Rashford was unable to see football “the way I see it” before the unwanted England striker was shipped out of Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old Rashford fell dramatically out of favour with the Portuguese boss and spent seven weeks on the sidelines until he was loaned to Premier League rivals Aston Villa during the transfer window.
“I couldn’t put Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it,” Amorim said on Thursday.
“And sometimes you have one player that is really good with one coach, and the same player with another coach is different.
“I just wish the best to Rashford and to (Aston Villa coach) Unai Emery, and they can connect because he’s a very good player.”
Amorim, whose team face Leicester in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday, said his focus now is on turning around a wretched season.
“Guys, in the summer… like we said before, we are fighting for our jobs until the summer,” he said.
“So, I am just focused on these games. Thankfully about Marcus he is in Birmingham now with Unai, so you can take these questions to another coach. We are just focused on our players at the moment.”
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