Real Madrid and Barcelona could be dropped from the Champions League as the Spanish FA sabotages itself and calls on UEFA to consider excluding them over ‘government intervention’ in the Luis Rubiales scandal
- Real Madrid and Barcelona’s Champions League spots may now be in jeopardy
- The Spanish Football Federation called on UEFA to consider suspending them from European competition
- If allowed, it would mean banning all Spanish clubs from Europe
According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid and Barcelona’s Champions League places are now on the line due to the Luis Rubiales scandal.
In a shocking development on Monday, the Spanish Football Federation urged European governing body UEFA to consider excluding them over the Spanish government’s intervention in the ongoing World Cup ‘kiss-gate’ saga, which saw official Rubiales kissed the Spanish star for £214,000 a year. Jennifer Hermoso on the lips without her consent.
If granted, this request would mean banning all Spanish clubs – including global giants Real and Barcelona – from UEFA competitions such as the Champions League (also affecting Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad), the Europa League (Villarreal and Real Betis) and the Europa Conference League (Osasuna).
Their spots in Europe are now under threat after comments from Spain’s FA chief Andreu Camps criticizing the Spanish government for interfering in the scandal that engulfed President Rubiales after he kissed Hermoso and stood next to Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old Hermoso at his crotch seized the royal box. daughter Infanta Sofia.
As reported by Onda CeroRubiales’ supporters in the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have mobilized to attack the country’s government for calling for Rubiales’ resignation.
Real Madrid and Barcelona’s Champions League slots are at risk due to the Luis Rubiales scandal
The Spanish Football Federation has urged European governing body UEFA to consider excluding them due to government intervention. If allowed, all Spanish clubs would be banned from Europe.
Spain’s FA president Luis Rubiales is under immense pressure to resign and faced widespread condemnation after he kissed Spanish player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips without permission and stood next to Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter Infanta Sofia at his crotch grip
The UEFA rules state: its members ‘will manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties.
“Any body or decision of a body not elected or appointed in accordance with said procedure, even provisionally, shall not be recognized by UEFA.”
Onda Cero’s sources claim that the reason UEFA has not yet commented on the scandal is that their president, Aleksander Ceferin, is personal friends with Rubiales.
RFEF’s interim president Pedro Rocha must now decide whether to uphold or order its withdrawal from general secretary Camps, a longtime ally of Rubiales,’s threat to UEFA, and whether to remove Camps from his position.
The RFEF has called an “urgent and extraordinary” meeting for Monday to discuss Rubiales’ position.
Rubiales has so far refused to step down over Sunday’s incident with Hermoso in Sydney, claiming the kiss was “consensual,” which Hermoso denies.
There are widespread demands for him to be sacked, with the entire Spanish coaching staff resigning over the issue, and the Spanish government also wants him gone.
Rubiales was expected to resign on Friday, but instead lashed out at what he called “false feminists” in a bizarre and defiant speech.
Rubiales claimed that the kiss on Hermoso was consensual, despite Hermoso’s insistence that it was not
The RFEF has called an “urgent and extraordinary” meeting for Monday to discuss its position
RFEF chief Andreu Camps (right) made the request to UEFA after members of the Spanish government criticized longtime ally Rubiales for the unwanted kiss and crotch grab
FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales on Thursday and announced on Saturday that he had been suspended from domestic and international football activities for three months pending an internal investigation after the sexual assault protocol came into effect.
The Spanish government cannot fire Rubiales, but has strongly denounced his actions and said on Friday that it wants to have him suspended through legal proceedings before a sports tribunal.
Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz will meet on Monday with representatives of the women’s union FUTPRO, representing Hermoso, and the Association of Spanish Footballers to ensure that football is a sector “that has decent conditions and spaces free from sexist violence.”
Acting budget minister Maria Jesus Montero said on Sunday that Rubiales should not return as leader of Spanish football. “Anyone who lies, who has shown that he has not understood what the fight for equality means in an area as important as sport, cannot control the direction of football in this country,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rubiales’ mother has locked herself in a church and has gone on hunger strike to protest what she calls her son’s “inhumane” treatment.