23 August 2023 , 10:28
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A LaLiga chief has urged Luis Rubiales to stand down as president the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and dubbed his behaviour at the Women's World Cup final as "deplorable".
Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation ceremony at Stadium Australia after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on Sunday, with the CF Pachuca striker later admitting she "did not enjoy it". A further video was then circulated on social media of the president telling the Spanish dressing room that he would “marry” Hermoso in Ibiza.
The incidents sparked widespread outrage, with a host of notable sporting and cultural figures - including Spain’s equalities minister Irene Montero and sports minister Miquel Iceta - condemning Rubiales' actions. And now president of LaLiga club Getafe CF, Angel Torres, has weighed in the controversy, calling for Rubiales to resign.
Speaking on Spanish radio show El Partidazo de COPE, Torres said: "He has to resign. His behaviour was deplorable. He cannot spend even one more minute as the president of the RFEF."
Torres is the latest high-profile figure to criticise Rubiales' behaviour, with acting Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez having slammed the RFEF president's conduct in press conference on Tuesday. “What we saw was an unacceptable gesture,” Sanchez said.
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"Apologies have not been enough. They are not suitable. Mr. Rubiales has to keep taking steps. Some of Rubiales' behaviour shows that in our country there is still a long way to go in terms of equality and respect and equal rights for women and men."
Rubiales had initially dismissed the backlash to his behaviour as "idiocy", however he later reneged on his bullish stance and apologised for his actions.
Jenni Hermoso was kissed on her lips by Spain FA president Luis Rubiales (RTVE)“Here (in the stadium) it was something natural, normal – so we did not understand the commotion,” Rubiales said in a statement on Monday. “There was no bad faith. Elsewhere, it seems that an uproar has occurred, of course, if there are people who have felt damaged by this I have to apologise.
"There is no other choice other than learning from this and understanding that when you are president of an institution as important as the Spanish Federation you have to be more careful in procedure and these type of issues."
The RFEF has now called an Extraordinary General Assembly for 1 September to discuss “the latest events that occurred during the award ceremony of the Women's World Cup."