25 August 2023 , 11:50
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Real Betis stars and Spain internationals Hector Bellerin and Borja Iglesias have announced they will not be available for selection while Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales remains in office.
Rubiales kissed Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the nation’s World Cup celebrations. Hermoso said she "did not enjoy it" in the aftermath of the incident and later called for the president’s actions to ‘not go unpunished ’. The moment occurred when Rubiales was congratulating the 33-year-old for her role in defeating England 1-0 in the World Cup final in Sydney.
However, Rubiales refused to step down from his role in an extraordinary press conference on Friday.
Betis striker Iglesias posted on social media: "I am sad and disappointed. As a footballer and as a person I don't feel represented by what happened today in the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas (the Spanish FA headquarters). I find it sad that they continue to press and focus on a colleague (Rubiales).
"Wearing the Spanish National Team shirt is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my career. I don't know if at some point I will be an option again, but I have made the decision not to return to the National Team until things change and this type of act does not go unpunished."
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He signed off with the post: "For a fairer, more humane and decent football."
Former Arsenal defender Bellerin re-signed for Betis this summer (Getty Images)Bellerin, the former Arsenal defender and Spain international who is a teammate of Iglesias at Betis, added his condemnation to the refusal of Rubiales to step down in a stinging statement.
Bellerin has said: "What is happening is truly shameful . From representing our country with that level of vulgarity, misrepresenting the victim's statements and, on top of that, having the audacity to blame her, going on to victimise her for having committed an abuse, are facts that no one would do.
"How can this go unpunished? Football is a social tool to make advancements and progress, machismo should have no place within this system. "The narcissist never believes he has made a mistake, he is capable of lying, manipulating the truth and making the victim guilty in order to maintain his power above others."