Luis Rubiales has opened up about the overwhelming sense of support he has received following the Jenni Hermoso kissing scandal, explaining how ‘everyone’ has said the ‘attack’ on him is ‘unjustified’.
Rubiales was handed a three-year football ban in October after kissing Spanish striker Hermoso on the lips without her consent following their World Cup victory over England.
The incident completely overshadowed Spain’s victory at the World Cup and caused outrage in the football world, creating one of the worst crises in the history of the sport in Spain.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee ruled that Rubiales had acted ‘with a sense of complete impunity’ at the awards ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sydney on August 20 and recommended stricter sanctions.
Former Spain women’s manager Jorge Vilda, Spain men’s team director Albert Luque and the Spanish Football Association’s marketing director are also under investigation for allegedly putting pressure on Hermoso.
Luis Rubiales has opened up about the overwhelming sense of support he has received following the kissing scandal involving Jenni Hermoso
Rubiales was handed a three-year football ban in October after kissing Spanish striker Hermoso on the lips without her consent following their World Cup victory over England.
The incident completely overshadowed Spain’s victory at the World Cup and sparked outrage in the football world – creating one of the worst crises in the history of the sport in Spain.
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However, Rubiales, who was also caught on camera grabbing his crotch while standing next to Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter Princess Infanta Sofia, says he has been treated unfairly.
In a recent interview with EL ESPANOLRubiales spoke of how women would approach him on the street to offer their support and described his treatment after the incident as “injustice.”
The 46-year-old said: ‘I walk down the street, I go out every day to shop or walk, I am with my friends or alone, in Madrid, in Granada, in Valencia or anywhere in Spain and everyone who sees me tells me that it is an injustice and something enormous.
‘I’m not talking about twenty or thirty percent, or about everyone. I think they realized that they wanted to use my case to cover up other issues and to divert attention at a time when very important things were happening in Spain.’
Hermoso argued that the kiss was without mutual consent, while Rubiales claimed the opposite and refused to resign his position. Nevertheless, Rubiales was granted a restraining order that prohibited Rubiales from coming within 200 yards of Hermoso or contacting her.
When asked if it was wrong to kiss Hermoso, Rubiales told EL ESPANOL: “I just asked her and she said yes. She told me ok. Jenni Hermoso was my friend. The point is that in previous years Jenni Hermoso asked me for things (about the national team: fields, concentrations, etc.). With language like: ‘Fuck, Rubiales…’.
‘That’s how she spoke to me. And she, as soon as she was ready and spontaneously, spoke to the media and told the truth at that moment. So what is feminism or what is equality for Jenni Hermoso and for some people? To change your mind? Lie? Because that’s what happened.’
When asked why he felt like Hermoso had a change of heart and decided to “lie” about the incident, Rubiales said, “You should ask her, but since she’s lying. Anyway, between the political pressure and so on.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee ruled that Rubiales had acted with ‘a sense of complete impunity’ at the awards ceremony after Spain’s 1-0 win over England
‘Look, recently a friend who specializes in criminal law said to me: ‘Luis, you should see if everything you receive now is like the Campanadas, regardless of whether there is a financial payment or not, because there is also the a matter of image, it is a form of bribery. I told him, ‘Look, let me get out of where I need to get out and we’ll see.’ Despite everything, I am calm.’
Rubiales further claimed that Hermoso was not the only one who changed his tune.
‘The moment I left the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE), I already saw that there were people who went from white to black after five minutes. I’m calm, I’m fine.
‘I’ve had a lot of positive surprises, a lot. I’m not even going to say the names because saying them is enough for me to harm them. We are in a country where not only did they criticize me, but also those who applauded.”
Rubiales concluded by talking about his decision to back Vilda after 15 players wrote a letter to the Spanish Football Federation in September 2022 refusing to play under his wing.
The fifteen players said that Vilda’s rule affected their ’emotional state’ and that there was unprofessionalism. However, Rubiales made it clear where he stood on the situation.
Speaking to EL ESPANOL, Rubiales said: “I made it very clear that there are no negotiations with Spain. Those who want to come, must play and those who don’t, must not play.
‘That the coach’s head is not given in exchange for whether or not he goes, because everything else is a lie. What if those open doors… There was nothing, it was just lie after lie.’
He added: ‘Jorge Vilda and his family had a very bad time. These women made life impossible for Jorge Vilda’s wife and played with the pain of many people. It was on a whim.
“If you don’t like the coach, then so be it; because that’s what others decide, and if there are things that need to change, tell me in a positive way. I got as involved as possible and spoke to some heavyweights privately. By the way, I will tell you that some conversations are great.”
Vilda was sacked less than two weeks after winning the World Cup, the last of his 75 wins from a possible 108 at the helm. The Spanish FA recognized Vilda’s efforts in helping the women’s team secure a first world title, with Spain becoming only the second country ever to win both the men’s and women’s World Cups.
The RFEF announced his resignation in line with one of interim president Pedro Rocha’s first ‘extension measures’, with the Spanish Football Association seemingly keen to freshen things up amid the ongoing scandal.
Rubiales sparked further outrage after footage emerged of him clutching his crotch as he celebrated Spain’s victory near Spain’s Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter.