CNN
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The president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, has refused to resign as president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after a week of intense criticism after a video emerged of him placing an unwanted kiss on a star of Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s team.
Rubiales was speaking before the federation’s extraordinary general assembly on Friday and said he would “fight until the end”.
He described in defiant speech The kiss as “mutual” and He spoke of “unfair” and “pseudo-feminist” campaigns, and repeatedly stressed several times during the nearly 30-minute speech that he would not resign.
Rubiales was filmed forcibly kissing Spanish star Jennifer Hermoso, who helped him La Roja She won her first Women’s World Cup title on Sunday in Sydney – on the lips after collecting a winners’ medal, an act the 33-year-old World Cup winner later said she “didn’t like” and “didn’t expect”. “.
Rubiales’ comments on Friday drew further criticism from some members of the Spanish football community, including fellow international Hermoso and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Potellas, who called his rhetoric “unacceptable”. Spain men’s national team striker Borja Iglesias has said he will not play for the national team “until things change”.
Rubiales admitted on Monday that he had “made a mistake”, but criticism continued throughout the week from the football world and Spanish politicians, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who said an apology for what he called an “unacceptable gesture” was “not enough”.
On Friday, the embattled president issued a strong defense of his actions in the final, saying, “Everyone there – even some of them my family and daughters – the wish that could have been there in that kiss is exactly the same thing that could have been.” Like giving a kiss to one of my daughters. No more, no less.
“It was a spontaneous kiss… It was spontaneous, mutual, exhilarating, with consent, and that’s the key. This is the key to all the criticism, all the campaign that has been waged in this country: that it was without consent. No, it was with consent.
Rubiales also said he was not in a position of control during the kiss and wanted to console Hermoso, who missed a penalty to put Spain 2-0 up in the final.
“When Jenny first appeared, she lifted me off the ground. She grabbed me by the thighs and by the legs, I don’t remember very well.” “She lifted me off the ground – and we were about to fall.
“And when she put me down, they hugged each other. She took me in her arms and pulled me into her body. We embraced and I said to her, ‘Forget the penalty. You were amazing, and we wouldn’t have won the World Cup without you.’ She said, ‘You’re amazing.’ And she said, “Okay.”
Then Beck happened through all this celebration where she patted my side several times and then excused herself with another hand on the side and burst out laughing. That’s the whole sequence. The whole world understood, the whole world thought it was just an anecdote, and above all, she said it was just a joke. anecdote and nothing more.
CNN has reached out to FUTPRO and RFEF for comment.
On Wednesday, after fierce criticism of Rubiales’ kiss from journalists, politicians and campaign groups, Hermoso said that FUTPRO and its agency TMJ “will defend my interests and act as spokespersons in this matter.”
Then FIFA said on Thursday it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales because he may have breached the “fundamental rules of proper behaviour” in the game.
Although he acknowledged the need to apologize for his actions, Rubiales described the calls for his resignation as a “witch-hunt”.
“…the thing about the kiss, which I said was free, was mutual, and it was with consent, but obviously I still have to ask forgiveness for the context in which it happened. I don’t live outside the world and I know I made a mistake about it.” “But do we think this is worth my witch hunt? Do you really think so?
“The other thing is what someone has to say publicly, but do you think he deserves this chase? For them to ask for my resignation? Is it so serious that I will have to leave after I made the best drive in the history of Spanish football?
“Do you think I should quit? Well, I’ll tell you something: I will not quit! I will not quit! I will not quit! I will not quit! I will not quit!”
“Totally unacceptable and devastating message”
In response to Rubiales’ letter, the world players’ union FIFPRO said it was once again calling for “immediate disciplinary action”.
“We welcome FIFA’s decision to open an ethics case, and the steps taken at the national level in Spain. Furthermore, we have written to UEFA, of which Mr. Rubiales is Vice-President, asking them to initiate disciplinary proceedings. statement.
“Any failure to take action by the authorities to address Mr Rubiales’ conduct would send a message that is totally unacceptable and damaging to the football industry and wider society.”
in statement, Barcelona said the club considered Rubiales’ behavior during the World Cup celebrations “totally inappropriate” and “inappropriate”.
“In light of his unexplained incident, FC Barcelona remains committed to its policy of supporting women’s sport, equality between men and women in sport and in society in general, ensuring the safety of women in sport and condemning any behavior that violates our rules.” “Principles and regulations,” the club said on Friday.
Striker Iglesias wrote on the social networking site X, previously Twitter: “I am sad and let down. As a footballer and as a person, I do not feel that what happened today in the football city of Las Rozas does not represent me. I think it is despicable that they continue to put pressure on and highlight colleague.
“Putting on the Spain shirt is the biggest thing that has happened in my career. I don’t know if I will have the chance to do it again, but I have made the decision not to return to the national team until things change and this kind of act does not go unpunished. For more football Justice, humanity and decent.”
Potellas expressed her support for her teammate Social media, He said, “This is unacceptable. I finish. I’m with you, my colleague (Hermoso).”
Former Spain captain Iker Casillas described the situation as “completely embarrassing”, while fellow Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea wrote on X: “My ears are bleeding.” Spanish soccer star Hector Bellerin wrote on Instagram that Rubiales’ actions and comments were a “real embarrassment”.
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