The regional presidents of the Spanish football federation have called for the immediate resignation of Luis Rubiales, the football chief. This demand comes shortly after the same members had previously applauded his decision to remain in his position.
After Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips and grabbed her head, the federation’s regional presidents convened an urgent meeting in Madrid to evaluate the resulting crisis. After a six-hour meeting, they released a unanimous statement stating that due to recent events and unacceptable behaviors that have severely tarnished the image of Spanish football, they are requesting Luis Rubiales to step down as the president of the Spanish football federation. Manu Díaz de Marcos, a member of the committee, mentioned in an interview with broadcaster Cadena Ser that they had not discussed the possibility of a vote of no confidence against Rubiales, which could have led to his swift removal.
This demand seems to contradict the atmosphere of the federation’s previous meeting, where Rubiales had vehemently declared “I will not resign” five times, and received enthusiastic applause from the attending members. His speech criticized what he termed as “fake feminism” and was met with a standing ovation.
The recent joint statement from the regional presidents, released on Monday, did not mention Jenni Hermoso by name. Instead, it emphasized the need for a “new phase” within the federation. With Rubiales provisionally suspended, his right-hand man, Pedro Rocha, will temporarily lead the organization. The statement also called for significant and timely reorganization of the institutional body. Despite expressing a commitment to the development of women’s soccer and the continuation of investment and equality policies, the meeting did not address whether Jorge Vilda, the coach of the Spanish women’s national team, should retain his position, despite the team having minimal coaching and technical staff.
Limited Allies
Rubiales now finds himself with limited allies. Both Jorge Vilda and the coach of the men’s national team, Luis de la Fuente, issued statements condemning Rubiales’ behavior shortly after publicly supporting his speech. This shift is seen as an indication that Rubiales is losing support from those who had previously shielded him. Even the most prominent football clubs in Spain, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, have criticized his actions.
Additionally, Spain’s top criminal court prosecutors have launched a preliminary investigation to determine whether Rubiales‘ uninvited kiss of Hermoso could potentially qualify as sexual assault. In response, hundreds of people gathered in a central plaza in Madrid, urging Rubiales to step down. The crowd echoed chants of “It’s not a peck, it’s an aggression,” while also displaying signs that proclaimed “Se acabó” (It’s over).
Among the participants in the rally was Yolanda Díaz, the labor minister and second deputy prime minister in Spain’s caretaker government. She previously remarked to reporters that Rubiales’ speech to the federation on Friday highlighted the entrenched machismo in Spanish society.
