Spain men’s team denounce Rubiales’ ‘unacceptable behavior’

Players of the Spanish men’s national football team this Monday condemned the “unacceptable behavior” of the President of the Spanish Sports Federation, Luis Rubiales, who kissed the player of the women’s team.

“We want to reject what we consider to be unacceptable behavior on the part of Mr. Rubiales, who is not in keeping with the institution he represents,” the players said today in a statement read to the media by the Spain captain. Alvaro Morata in Madrid on the first day of the team’s preparations for the 2024 European Championship qualifiers.

The Atlético Madrid player said the statement was “from all the players” of the national team who were present in the room where he read the text.

The players expressed their “proud” and “heartfelt congratulations” to the women’s team for winning the World Cup title at the World Championships held in New Zealand and Australia last month.

“A historic achievement full of meaning that will mark history before and after in Spanish women’s football, inspiring many, many women to untold triumphs,” Morata said as she read the statement.

In this context, the national team players deplored “events that damaged the image of Spanish football”, referring to Rubiales’ behavior at the stadium in Sydney on 20 August during and after the final of the Women’s World Cup.

Rubiales kissed the player Jenny Hermoso on the lips, which the player later said was not agreed, contrary to the statements of the president of the federation.

Earlier, on the stadium bench, Rubiales touched his own genitals to celebrate Spain’s victory.

These two behaviors brought him complaints from the Spanish government to the Administrative Court for Sport, which decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales and remove FIFA from the position of president of the Spanish federation for 90 days.

“We stand firmly and clearly on the side of the values ​​that sport represents. Spanish football must be an engine of respect, inspiration, equality and diversity. He must lead by example both on and off the pitch,” Alvaro Morata said on Monday on behalf of the men’s team players.

The players lamented and expressed their solidarity with the women’s team for seeing “its success tarnished”.

After the events in Sydney, there was much criticism of Rubiales, who stated that he would not give up the position, which led to a new surge of controversy and extreme positions, with the selected players saying that they were not ready to represent Spain again. while the current directors of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) remain in their posts.

Eleven members of the technical team of female coach Jorge Vilda have submitted their resignations. For his part, the technician condemned the “improper behavior” of the president of the RFEF.