By Samindra Kunti
September 5 – The Spanish FA (RFEF) have issued an apology for the “totally unacceptable” behaviour of Luis Rubiales after kissing Jenni Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup final. The RFEF has also sacked coach its head women’s coach Jorge Vilda.
The governing body said they are ‘embarrassed’ over the saga that has caused ‘enormous damage’ to the reputation of the Spanish game as well as for the country.
The RFEF president Pedro Rocha (pictured) released a statement apologising for the actions of Rubiales, who has been suspended by FIFA, and highlighted the body’s shame over the actions of Rubiales. The statement confirmed that the RFEF would assist FIFA with their investigation as they moved to distance themselves from Rubiales’ actions.
“The damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and the values of football and sport as a whole have been enormous,” read the statement.
“Mr Rubiales’ actions do not represent the values defended by the Spanish federation, nor the values of Spanish society as a whole. His actions must be attributed solely and exclusively to him, since he is the one solely responsible for those actions before society, before the sports governing bodies and, if applicable, before justice.
“To be clear, this position was that of Mr Rubiales, not that of the RFEF. We feel especially sorry and ashamed for the pain and additional distress this has caused.
“The RFEF is providing all the documentary and administrative support that is required from both disciplinary bodies to be able to have a definitive resolution as soon as possible that allows the damage caused to be compensated.”
Rubiales and the RFEF came under an uncontrollable firestorm of criticism following the football official’s conduct during the trophy presentation after Spain had defeated England to win a maiden Women’s World Cup title.
FIFA moved to suspend Rubiales with UEFA remaining largely remaining silent on the behaviour of one of Europe’s powerbrokers though the confederation’s president Aleksander Ceferin called Rubiales’s behaviour “inappropriate”, saying that FIFA will deal with the case in the first instance.
The RFEF’s statement will increase pressure on Rubiales, who has fought tooth and nail to maintain his position and is still holding on.
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