The chaos in Spanish football continues after Luis Rubiale’s scandalous kiss.
Now the union is calling a crisis meeting – to “evaluate the situation”.
– I believe that the chairman should resign from his post, says Rosa Herreros, Spanish soccer player in Allsvenskan Växjö DFF in Efter fem.
The storm within the Spanish Football Federation has not subsided. After president Luis Rubiales kisses player Jennifer Hermoso during the medal ceremony after the World Cup final a week ago.
The incident has attracted worldwide attention and massive criticism is directed at both Rubiales and the association. Jennifer Hermoso states that she felt vulnerable and “like a victim of abuse”, writes AFP.
RFEF to “evaluate the situation”
On Sunday, the football federation, RFEF, announced that it was calling an “extraordinary and urgent” crisis meeting on Monday.
The association must “evaluate the situation” after the scandalous kiss, writes Reuters and refers to a statement from the RFEF.
The announcement comes a day after Fifa announced that Rubiales was suspended from national and international football activities for three months pending an investigation. The union chairman states that he will use the investigation to “prove his innocence”.
The scandal has also led to reactions from the political side. Acting Finance Minister Maria Jesus Montero says Rubiales should not return as leader of Spanish football.
– A person who lies, who has shown that he does not understand what the fight for equality means in something as important as sport, cannot have the direction of Spanish football in his hands, she says according to Reuters.
The Spanish Växjö player: “Should resign”
One of the players who reacts strongly to Luis Rubiale’s actions is Rosa Herreros, who on a day-to-day basis represents Växjö DFF in the Damallsvenskan.
– Honestly, I think it feels quite embarrassing to talk about it. Of course he grabs her face, it’s hard to explain away, she says in Efter fem.
According to her, Luis Rubiales cannot keep his job.
– You should respect each other. It is sad that you get this image of Spain. I believe that the chairman should resign from his post, she says.
At the same time, Rosa Herreros hopes that the scandal will not have too many negative consequences for women’s football in the country.
– I hope that more girls will want to play football. I want girls to be able to dream of becoming soccer players in the future, she says.