25-8-2023 (MADRID) Luis Rubiales, President of Spain’s football federation, delivered a defiant speech on Friday, refusing to step down amidst criticism following a controversial kiss with Women’s World Cup winner, Jenni Hermoso.
In an impassioned address, Rubiales declared, “I will fight until the end. I hope the law prevails. The media is neither pursuing justice nor the truth,” emphatically asserting, “I am not going to resign, I am not going to resign.”
The embattled football chief had been widely anticipated to resign on Friday, after a week of public outcry following his non-consensual kiss of Jenni Hermoso in Sydney, witnessed by millions worldwide.
Rubiales, addressing an audience comprising some of Spain’s highest-ranking football officials, defended the kiss, characterizing it as “a mere peck… the kind I would give my daughters.” He claimed that the kiss had been consensual, with Hermoso agreeing after he proposed it.
He went on to place blame on Hermoso, alleging that her initial silence and later press release advocating for more measures to combat sexual harassment in Spanish football had contributed to his “social assassination.”
Rubiales faced criticism from senior Spanish politicians, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
However, on Friday, Rubiales asserted that he was a victim of “false feminism” and accused politicians of trying to demonize him. He contended that equality wasn’t merely about gender balance but about distinguishing between truth and falsehood. He specifically named Spain’s caretaker Deputy Prime Minister, Yolanda Díaz, and Equality Minister Irene Montero as his accusers and declared his intent to pursue legal action against those who had criticized him.
The controversial kiss btw Luis Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso.
Luis was clearly overjoyed.
There’s nothing much to it.
Besides in most European countries, kissing is a way of greeting.#FIFAWWC #FIFAWomensWorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/h7GXomEX1c
— THE CRUISE TV. (@the_cruisetv) August 24, 2023
