Spain men’s team condemns Rubiales’ ‘unacceptable behaviour’

Spain’s men’s nationwide team launched a press release on Monday condemning Spanish FA (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales’ “unacceptable behaviour” after the Women’s World Cup.

The assertion, learn out by Atletico Madrid striker Álvaro Morata, mentioned Rubiales’ conduct within the postmatch celebrations in Sydney “tarnished” Spain’s 1-0 win within the closing over England.

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Rubiales is suspended from all football-related exercise for 90 days by FIFA because the governing physique carries out an investigation into his nonconsensual kiss of Jenni Hermoso through the medal ceremony.

“The players of the men’s national team would like to highlight several issues regarding recent events that have damaged the image of Spanish football,” said Morata, seated alongside fellow captains César Azpilicueta, Rodri and Marco Asensio.

“Firstly, we would like to once again express our pride and our most sincere congratulations to the women’s national team for winning the World Cup. It is a historic milestone full of meaning that will mark a before and after in Spanish women’s football.

“For this motive, we want to categorical our remorse and solidarity with the gamers who’ve seen their success tarnished.

“We also wish to reject what we consider to be unacceptable behaviour on the part of Mr. Rubiales, who has failed to live up to the institution he represents.

“We stand firmly and clearly on the aspect of the values that sport represents. Spanish soccer have to be an engine of respect, inspiration, inclusion and variety and should set an instance with its conduct each on and off the pitch.”

Morata finished by asking for the players to now be allowed to focus on “sporting points” as they prepare for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Georgia and Cyprus.

The incident with Hermoso has garnered most of the attention since the final, but Rubiales has also been condemned for grabbing his crotch, hugging and kissing other players and carrying another over his shoulder.

In addition to FIFA’s investigation, the Spanish government’s Supreme Sports Council (CSD) is also seeking his suspension, although it encountered a setback in its attempts to do so from Spain’s Administrative Sports Court (TAD) last week.

The TAD opened a case against Rubiales but classified his infraction as “severe” rather than “very severe,” which prevents the CSD from stepping in and suspending him in parallel to FIFA’s ban.

However, the CSD has still requested the TAD suspend him as it carries out its investigation, which could end with a ban of as long as two years.

Spanish prosecutors have also opened a preliminary sex abuse investigation into Rubiales, although any action would be subject to Hermoso pressing charges.

In the meantime, the RFEF, led by acting president Pedro Rocha, joined calls for Rubiales to step down last week. But Rubiales still refuses to resign and, in a statement released Friday, pledged to keep fighting to clear his name.

“I’ll proceed to defend myself to show the reality,” he said, criticising the “unprecedented political and media lynching” he has confronted.