Rubiales RFEF timeline: World Cup kiss, allegations, more

Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), refused to resign on Friday and stated he’ll “fight to the end” after every week of rising stress following his unsolicited kiss of Spain participant Jenni Hermoso. On Saturday, he was provisionally suspended from all football-related actions for 90 days by FIFA.

That Rubiales grabbed Hermoso’s head and kissed her lips with out her consent has garnered many of the headlines, however he was additionally seen effusively hugging different members of the Spain nationwide crew and kissing them on the cheek. Before that, instantly following Spain’s affirmation as World Cup champions, Rubiales was seen grabbing his crotch in a victory gesture, with 16-year-old Infanta Sofia and Queen Letizia of Spain standing close by.

Rubiales, 46, introduced the shock transfer — after widespread experiences that he deliberate to give up — in a speech on Friday through which he tried to justify his behaviour, and lashed out at critics, throughout a unprecedented assembly of the federation’s common meeting.

His behaviour has been denounced by varied sporting our bodies and politicians all through the week, together with performing Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. While Rubiales has elevated RFEF income and led a bid to deliver the World Cup to the nation in 2030, his tenure has additionally been marked by controversial incidents and allegations in opposition to him.

Here is a timeline of Rubiales’ five-year tenure because the RFEF president.

May 2018: Elected president of the RFEF

After a profession as an expert footballer, primarily spent in Spain however ending in Scotland with Hamilton Academical, Rubiales was elected president of the Spanish Players’ Association (AFE) in 2010. He give up in 2017 to pursue the job on the RFEF, finally getting elected forward of Juan Luis Larrea.

Rubiales succeeded Angel Villar, who had left the function following prices of corruption, collusion, embezzlement and falsifying paperwork.

June 2018: Sacks Lopetegui on eve of males’s World Cup

Just one month into his new job, Rubiales sacked the lads’s nationwide crew coach, Julen Lopetegui, on the eve of the World Cup in Russia after it was introduced that Lopetegui had reached an settlement to develop into Real Madrid’s supervisor after the match. Fernando Hierro took over for the finals as La Roja misplaced to Russia on penalties within the final 16.

February 2019: Joins UEFA govt committee

Rubiales was elected to the UEFA govt committee after which was appointed as one of many governing physique’s vice presidents in May.

June 2019: Women’s crew exit World Cup in spherical of 16

In their first main match since Rubiales was elected, Spain’s ladies misplaced 2-1 to the United States within the final 16 of the 2019 World Cup.

January 2020: Wins trial after assault allegations

Rubiales was accused of assaulting an architect answerable for renovating his home in 2019. The case went to courtroom, and Rubiales gained. He maintained he had been the victim of harassment from the lady who had pressed prices in opposition to him.

September 2020: Reelected as RFEF president

Former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas dropped out of the race to develop into RFEF president, and Rubiales was reelected unopposed on a brand new four-year mandate.

October 2020: RFEF launches World Cup 2030 bid

With Rubiales because the seen face of the bid, Spain — in collaboration with Portugal — introduced its intention to host the 2030 World Cup. Morocco, and later Ukraine, have since been added to the bid. The need to deliver the World Cup to the nation is the primary skilled hyperlink between Rubiales and Prime Minister Sanchez.

July 2021: Men exit Euros in semifinals

After bowing out on penalties on the 2018 World Cup, there was more disappointment for Spain’s males’s crew as they misplaced on spot-kicks within the semifinals to Italy at Euro 2020, which was staged in 2021.

April 2022: Saudi Arabia Super Cup fallout

Leaked audio messages revealed new particulars on the RFEF’s resolution to take the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. It was first staged in Jeddah in 2020, nevertheless it was later divulged how the concept had been developed by Rubiales, former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique and former King Juan Carlos I.

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Criticism targeted on an alleged battle of curiosity and the fee paid to finish the deal; Rubiales vehemently denied the accusations.

April 2022: Accused of claiming bills on lease from RFEF

A report in El Confidencial alleged Rubiales was utilizing RFEF cash to pay the lease on his dwelling in Madrid in a breach of rules. Rubiales said that was “completely false” and that events have been behind the accusations.

May 2022: Accused of illicit recordings

El Confidencial accused Rubiales of recording compromising conversations and phone calls with members of presidency, courting again to his election in 2018. “We want to make it clear that the president never made any recordings of the president, any minister or any member of [the political party] Podemos,” the RFEF said on the time.

June 2022: Battles with LaLiga chief

Rubiales’ tenure has additionally seen him in regular conflict with LaLiga president Javier Tebas. Rubiales criticised Tebas for eager to take LaLiga video games to the U.S., although Tebas later identified how the RFEF had taken the Super Cup to Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

Things got here to a head final 12 months when Tebas stated an RFEF official had recorded a non-public dialog with him. The vice secretary of the RFEF, Miguel García Caba, admitted to the recording, though he stated the assembly was arrange as a result of LaLiga wished to “poach” him and he was defending himself.

July 2022: Women exit Euros in quarterfinals

Spain’s ladies didn’t win a knockout recreation at a significant match once more, this time overwhelmed by England on the quarterfinal stage of Euro 2022.

September 2022: Allegations of misusing RFEF cash for personal events

Juan Rubiales, Rubiales’ uncle and former chief of workers, told prosecutors that non-public events, usually of a sexual nature, have been organised by the RFEF chief with cash from the federation. The RFEF denied the allegations and took authorized motion in opposition to Juan Rubiales, which it gained.

September 2022: Crisis with the ladies’s crew, backing for Vilda

The means Rubiales and the RFEF handled the considerations of 15 gamers on the Spanish ladies’s crew final September was topic to heavy criticism. The gamers internally requested for enhancements to be made to the construction surrounding the facet, a more skilled strategy and voiced considerations over parts of coach Jorge Vilda’s administration fashion.

Rather than hearken to them and be open to vary, a press release accused them of making use of stress to the federation, making an attempt to get Vilda sacked and threatened them with bans of as much as 5 years. It added they might solely return in the event that they “realised their error and apologised.”

October 2022: Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal criticism

LaLiga sides Sevilla, Valencia and Villarreal demanded an apology from Rubiales after he stated they have been the three groups he most disliked.

December 2022: Men exit World Cup in final 16

For the second World Cup and third match working, Spain’s males misplaced on penalties within the final 16, this time shedding to Morocco. Coach Luis Enrique was launched after the match, to get replaced by Luis de la Fuente.

December 2022: RFEF continues large income will increase

One constructive of Rubiales’ tenure is that the RFEF’s income has elevated considerably since he arrived. In 2018, when Rubiales got here into workplace, annual revenue was €146m ($158m). By 2022, that increased to €406m. It’s predicted to drop slightly in 2023, to €382m, with final 12 months’s earnings inflated by the lads’s World Cup in Qatar.

January 2023: Criticism at Spanish Super Cup

The RFEF have been accused by the Spanish Players’ Association (AFE), amongst others, together with Tebas, of disrespecting the ladies’s recreation when Barça’s gamers have been made to gather their medals on their very own from a desk on the facet of the pitch after profitable the Super Cup. The RFEF argued the identical protocol had been utilized within the earlier males’s Copa del Rey.

March 2023: Players demand resignation for ‘spying’

The AFE then accused Rubiales of “spying” on their president, David Aganzo, in an try and hinder their operations. They demanded Rubiales’ dismissal; the RFEF denied the allegations.

June 2023: Collective settlement with ladies’s nationwide crew

Internal dialogue following final September’s disaster surrounding the ladies’s crew led to some adjustments. Added backroom workers have been appointed as a part of a more skilled setup, and the RFEF agreed to a journey allowance of €15,000 for every participant to take their household to the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

Rubiales asserts the quantity given by the RFEF was higher than that of some other nation, saying England was second with an €11,000 allowance. Three gamers from the aforementioned 15 returned, 5 weren’t chosen and 7 proceed to refuse to play for Spain beneath the present regime.

June 2023: Spain win Nations League

La Roja‘s males overcame Italy after which Croatia to win the UEFA Nations League within the Netherlands.

Aug. 20, 2023: Rubiales’ celebrations go too far

Rubiales’ behaviour after Spain beat England within the 2023 Women’s World Cup ultimate overshadowed the sport. He was condemned for the unsolicited kiss, grabbing his crotch and different incidents. His speedy response was to say these criticising him have been “idiots.”

Aug. 21, 2023: Apology video

As the criticism grew, Rubiales lastly issued an apology. He stated he was “sorry to those who were offended” in a video recorded on his personal because the Spanish crew stopped in Doha on their means again from Australia.

The apology got here after Spain’s minister for tradition and sport, Miquel Iceta, described Rubiales’ actions as “unacceptable.”

“It seems unacceptable to me,” Iceta informed broadcaster RNE. “We’re in a moment of equality, of rights and respect for women. We all have to be particularly careful in our attitudes and our actions. I think it’s unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her.”

Having stated she “didn’t like” the kiss throughout a livestream on Sunday evening, Hermoso disregarded Rubiales’ behaviour earlier on Monday, saying the kiss was “no big deal” and blaming “the emotion of the moment.”

Aug. 22, 2023: Pressure builds

Back in Spain, the difficulty dominated the information. Sanchez stated Rubiales’ apology was “insufficient and inadequate.” Acting Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz stated he should stand down.

Aug. 23, 2023: Public outcry continues and Hermoso speaks

The stress continued to mount. Spanish golf equipment started to name for resignation, with Getafe president Angel Torres saying Rubiales mustn’t keep within the function “for one more minute.” The Spanish Players’ Association, Liga F and FIFPRO additionally condemned his actions. Later, Hermoso, by means of her union, FUTPRO, launched a press release.

“My union, FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency, TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and being the interlocutors on this matter,” Hermoso stated. FUTPRO stated Rubiales’ actions “should never go unpunished.”

Aug. 24, 2023: Inquiry begins

FIFA, by means of its disciplinary committee, opened disciplinary proceedings for “events that may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”

Aug. 25, 2023: ‘Going to combat’

Following a gathering on the RFEF’s headquarters in Madrid, Rubiales introduced he wouldn’t step down as president, lashing out as his critics and defending his actions.

“Do you think this [incident] is so serious that I should go, after the best management in the history of Spanish football?” Rubiales stated. “Let me tell you: I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign.

“I’ve come beneath a number of stress. Perhaps any individual will look to take away me on Monday. But we stay in a rustic of legal guidelines. Is a consensual kiss sufficient to take away me? I’m going to combat till the top. I hope the legislation is adopted, and that as there is not any purpose to [remove me], it will not occur.”

Aug. 26, 2023: Suspended

FIFA provisionally suspended Rubiales from all football-related activities for 90 days

It said in a statement on Saturday: “The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), in use of the powers granted by article 51 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), has determined right this moment to provisionally droop Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related actions at nationwide and worldwide stage. This suspension, which shall be efficient as of right this moment, is for an preliminary interval of 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings opened in opposition to Mr. Luis Rubiales on Thursday, Aug. 24.

“Likewise, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and in order to preserve, among other factors, the fundamental rights of the national team player Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and the good order of the disciplinary proceedings before this disciplinary body, has issued two additional directives (article 7 FDC) by which he orders Mr. Luis Rubiales to refrain, through himself or third parties, from contacting or attempting to contact the professional player of the Spanish national football team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso or her close environment.

“Likewise, the RFEF and its officers or staff, instantly or by means of third events, are ordered to chorus from contacting the skilled participant of the Spanish nationwide crew Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and her shut surroundings.”

Aug. 28, 2023: Rubiales family protests as RFEF calls ‘extraordinary meeting’

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) called an “extraordinary and pressing” meeting on Monday as it sought to manage the fallout from FIFA’s suspension of Rubiales.

Meanwhile, members of Rubiales’ family — including his mother — locked themselves in a church in Motril, Spain, in protest of the way they feel their son is being treated. Rubiales’ mother, Angeles Bejar, was also confirmed as being on a hunger strike until the “inhuman, bloodthirsty witch hunt which my son is being subjected to” got here to an finish.