Luis Rubiales fallout live: Rfef boss accused of sexual assault while Jorge Vilda hits out at ‘unfair’ sacking
Luis Rubiales is fighting to clear his name and remain in his job as president of the Spanish FA (Rfef) amid increasing pressure and criticism after his conduct across the Women’s World Cup final.
After kissing Spain’ Jenni Hermoso, with the player insisting it was without consent and not welcomed, the fallout has seen the Spanish federation widely criticised for their lack of immediate response and Rubiales’ insistence he is in the right.
Meanwhile, manager of the women’s team Jorge Vilda has been sacked, adding a further layer to the ongoing discussion and subsequent changes at the head of the federation. Follow all the latest updates regarding Spain’s women’s team, Rubiales and Vilda below.
Luis Rubiales latest
Luis Rubiales insists he’ll ‘continue defending myself’ over kiss scandal
Spain Women’s manager Jorge Vilda sacked
Vilda insists sacking is unfair
Luis Rubiales - Spain fallout latest
18:30 , Reuters
The Spanish Government mistakenly honoured celebrity Ivana Icardi, sister of Argentinian footballer Mauro Icardi, instead of Women’s World Cup winning captain Ivana Andres, with the country’s Royal Order of Sports Merit, Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD) confirmed on Wednesday.
CSD issued an official apology for the “human error” which they “deeply regret” after the blunder was published in Tuesday’s edition of Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE).
A correction was made on Wednesday’s edition, honouring the correct Ivana, who lifted Spain’s first Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last month.
Ivana Icardi, an Argentinian celebrity who resides in Mallorca and has participated in several Spanish reality television shows, reacted in confusion on social media.
“This really happened! How could they possibly get something like this wrong?,” Icardi wrote while sharing a copy of BOE’s page with her name on it.
Real Madrid defender Andres reacted to the news posting on X the viral meme of Spider-Man pointing at another Spider-Man.
However, Ivana was not the only mistake made by those in charge of the list of honorees. Midfielder Aitana Bonmati, World Cup player of the tournament and UEFA Player of the Year, also had her name misspelt in Tuesday’s edition of BOE.
The blunder comes among the headlines generated by Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales‘ after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the final in Sydney on Aug. 20.
He also grabbed his crotch while standing close to Spain’s Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter.
Coach Jorge Vilda, one of his closest allies, was sacked on Tuesday, 10 days after FIFA suspended Rubiales for his behaviour that has sparked outrage in Spain and abroad.
Reuters
Sacked Spain manager Jorge Vilda defends clapping Luis Rubiales’ ‘I will not resign’ speech
18:00 , Karl Matchett
Jorge Vilda feels it was “unfair” for him to be sacked as Spain’s Women coach after winning the World Cup in the fallout from the scandal involving the Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales.
Vilda was the only member of the women’s national team coaching set-up not to resign in protest at the behaviour of Rubiales at the end of the World Cup final, but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) confirmed his dismissal on Tuesday afternoon.
The former head coach was seen applauding Rubiales at an emergency RFEF general assembly when he announced on August 25 that he would not resign over his actions in Sydney.
Sacked Jorge Vilda defends clapping Luis Rubiales’ ‘I will not resign’ speech
Luis Rubiales - LATEST NEWS
17:30 , Karl Matchett
Spanish football star Jenni Hermoso has filed a legal complaint over an unsolicited kiss by football federation boss Luis Rubiales following Spain’s win over England in the Women’s World Cup final, the national prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday.
With the complaint, Rubiales could face criminal charges in addition to the ongoing probe by Spain’s top sport court for “serious misconduct” and an investigation by world governing body Fifa.
The kiss occurred minutes after Spain won the World Cup, immediately prior to lifting the trophy as the squad received their medals and passed a line of dignitaries - one of which was Rubiales in his position as president of the Spanish football association (Rfef). There, he was seen planting a kiss on Rubiales’ lips - which the player says was not consensual and Rubiales insists was.
While the crisis engulfing Spanish football has centred around Rubiales’ position and conduct, it has not been limited to the president, with head coach Jorge Vilda sacked from his post this week and claiming it to have been an “unfair” decision.
Rubiales, meanwhile, continues to protest his innocence in the situation, releasing a statement to say “justice will be served” and that “information [...] is being subjected to numerous manipulations, lies, and censorship”.
Dear men, a kiss is never just ‘a kiss’
17:00 , Karl Matchett
woody Allen, who at 87 should know better, has waded into the debate about Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales’ full-throttle grab of world-cup-winning footballer Jenni Hermoso.
“The kiss on the soccer player was wrong,” he concedes, “but he did not burn down a school… they didn’t hide, nor did he kiss her in a dark alley. He wasn’t raping her, it was just a kiss and she was a friend. What’s wrong with that?”
In Hermoso’s view, quite a lot was wrong with it – she has today filed a complaint with the prosecutor’s office in Spain over the unsolicited kiss.
Allen’s bar for male behaviour in professional life is set as low as one would expect from someone who cast a 16-year-old as his love interest in Manhattan when he was 42, and as a 56-year-old was alleged to have taken naked photos of the 21-year-old daughter of his long-term partner.
The surprise isn’t that he believes this, but that in 2023 he still feels emboldened to express the view that a kiss is “just” a kiss (so long as it’s not down a back alley) shows “just” how big the gulf is between how many men and women see things. And for how long women have “just” had to laugh so many incidents off.
Every woman has their own “kisstory” – their grope account, (per)version of events, a chronicle of handsyness – that is activated when events like this become public. Hermoso allegedly laughing off Rubiales’s assault has been used in evidence against her, but all women know that instinct to minimise the upset because to make a fuss is just too embarrassing.
Christina Hopkinson’s comment for Indy Premium:
Dear men, a kiss is never just ‘a kiss’| Christina Hopkinson
Hermoso accusation could lead to criminal case
16:40 , Associated Press
Rubiales was suspended from his post by FIFA on Aug. 27, a day after he refused to step down when he delivered a defiant speech to the general assembly of his federation in which he said he was victim of a "witch hunt" by "false feminists." Rubiales was banned from his post for 90 days while the body's disciplinary judges consider his case. FIFA can impose sanctions on individuals ranging from warnings and fines to suspensions from the sport.
The 46-year-old Rubiales also faces action from the Spanish government. A government legal panel overseeing sports has opened a probe to determine if he abused his authority by kissing Hermoso or tainted the image of Spain with his conduct. He faces being deemed unfit to hold his post for up to two years.
He could also face a no-confidence vote by the federation, a move that the institution has yet to make despite having asked him to resign.
But the decision by Hermoso represents the biggest challenge to Rubiales so far since it could lead to a criminal case.
The prosecutor's office said Hermoso made the accusation on Tuesday. Prosecutors had said last week that they were going to meet with Hermoso to give her the opportunity to present an accusation against Rubiales.
Hermoso, a 33-year-old forward, now plays for Mexican club Pachuca after a long career with top Spanish and European clubs, including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.
Rubiales' behavior at the final, which included a lewd crotch grab while next to dignitaries including Spain's queen and teenage princess, combined with his controversial speech have torn Spanish soccer apart.
Luis Rubiales crisis: How Spanish FA president fell from grace
16:20 , Karl Matchett
Luis Rubiales is facing renewed calls to resign as the fallout from his actions during and after the Women’s World Cup final continues.
In the moments after Spain secured their first Women’s World Cup crown, Rubiales kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent.
Footage subsequently emerged showing the 46-year-old grabbing his crotch in celebration during the win over England while stood in close proximity to Queen Letizia of Spain.
The former defender had been widely expected to step down from his role after calling a press conference on Friday 25 August, but instead attempted to justify his behaviour, describing the outcry after the final as “a social assassination”.
Here is a timeline of the Spanish FA president’s fall from grace.
Luis Rubiales is just the latest crisis in Spanish FA’s dark history
16:00 , Karl Matchett
Luis Rubiales was completely isolated and yet still officially the head of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (Rfef). It is an absurd situation that symbolises so much about a story that is at once so serious and also utterly farcical, not least when it comes to the organisation itself.
The regional chiefs that form the Rfef’s assembly finally turned on Rubiales by requesting his resignation, but they don’t actually have the power to force it. The 46-year-old still has to take the decision, which would come just days after he repeatedly announced: “I am not resigning!”. In the meantime, he is suspended from all football-related activities by Fifa, which could take it even further once its investigation concludes.
So much of this story has developed from Rubiales’ distinctive personality, to put it generously. And yet the very fact such a personality is so difficult to remove from the role is a reflection of something much bigger, which has also provoked even more discussions about what Spanish football has been and where it is going.
Miguel Delaney on the dismal state of Spanish football affairs:
Luis Rubiales is just the latest crisis in Spanish FA’s dark history
Spain men’s manager asks for ‘forgiveness’ after applauding Luis Rubiales speech
15:40 , Karl Matchett
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has apologised for applauding a speech made by Luis Rubiales, in which he refused to resign as president of the Spanish football federation.
Amid calls for his own resignation, De La Fuente has named his squad for European Championship qualifiers against Georgia and Cyprus.
Speaking to the press, he admitted making an “unjustifiable mistake” and apologised for clapping the speech from Mr Rubiales.
“I don’t think I need to resign, I need to ask for forgiveness,” De La Fuente said. “I made a mistake, a human mistake, and I said it is unjustifiable.”
Watch the video here.
Sacked Spain manager Jorge Vilda defends clapping Luis Rubiales’ ‘I will not resign’ speech
15:20 , Karl Matchett
Jorge Vilda feels it was “unfair” for him to be sacked as Spain’s Women coach after winning the World Cup in the fallout from the scandal involving the Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales.
Vilda was the only member of the women’s national team coaching set-up not to resign in protest at the behaviour of Rubiales at the end of the World Cup final, but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) confirmed his dismissal on Tuesday afternoon.
The former head coach was seen applauding Rubiales at an emergency RFEF general assembly when he announced on August 25 that he would not resign over his actions in Sydney.
During the presentation ceremony Rubiales had kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips – something she says she did not consent to – and he grabbed his crotch in the VIP area celebrating the win, stood just metres from Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter.
Rubiales was suspended by Fifa the following day, pending an investigation into his conduct.
Concerns over Vilda’s coaching methods and regime were reported to have been a key factor in 15 Spain players refusing to play for the national team last year.
Sacked Jorge Vilda defends clapping Luis Rubiales’ ‘I will not resign’ speech
BREAKING: Luis Rubiales could face criminal charges after Hermoso files official complaint
15:00 , Karl Matchett
Spanish football star Jenni Hermoso has filed a legal complaint over the unsolicited kiss by football federation boss Luis Rubiales following Spain’s win in the Women’s World Cup, the national prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday.
With the complaint, Rubiales could face criminal charges in addition to the ongoing probe by Spain’s top sport court for “serious misconduct” and an investigation by world governing body Fifa.
The kiss occurred minutes after Spain won the World Cup, immediately prior to lifting the trophy as the squad received their medals and passed a line of dignitaries - one of which was Rubiales in his position as president of the Spanish football association (Rfef). There, he was seen planting a kiss on Rubiales’ lips - which the player says was not consensual and Rubiales insists was.
More details here:
Rubiales could face criminal charges after Hermoso’s official complaint over kiss
Rfef attribute Vilda sacking to ‘structural changes'
14:40 , Karl Matchett
Spain’s decision to sack Jorge Vilda made no mention of Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso or any other of the issues engulfing Spain’s national team.
“It was a brief meeting with (interim president) Pedro Rocha and the vice-president for equality. Their explanation was that of ‘structural changes’,” Vilda said about how he learned he was being sacked.
“My conscience is clear because I have given 100% every day. I said I didn’t understand and that I didn’t think my dismissal was deserved.
“I will never applaud anything related to machismo. The president was praising my work and announced my renewal, that’s what I applauded. The rest... when 150 people around you are applauding, it is very difficult to be the only one who does not...”
In a statement that gave no reason for his dismissal and did not mention Hermoso, Rubiales or the scandal, the RFEF thanked 42-year-old Vilda for his “extraordinary sporting legacy”.
“The coach has been key to the remarkable growth of women’s football and leaves Spain as world champions and second in the FIFA rankings,” the RFEF statement said.
Luis Rubiales latest news and updates
14:20 , PA
The Spanish football federation has apologised for the “enormous damage” caused by the actions of its suspended president Luis Rubiales.
The 46-year-old has been provisionally barred from all football activity for an initial 90 days by Fifa while it investigates his conduct at last month’s Women’s World Cup final in Sydney.
Rubiales kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation, something Hermoso has said she did not consent to. However, Rubiales has refused to resign over the matter.
Now, the current president of the Spanish federation (Rfef), Pedro Rocha, has written a letter distancing the organisation from Rubiales‘ actions, saying he is “ashamed” by them.
“The damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and the values of football and sport as a whole have been enormous,” Rocha’s letter said.
“Mr Rubiales‘ actions do not represent the values defended by the Spanish federation, nor the values of Spanish society as a whole.
“His actions must be attributed solely and exclusively to him, since he is the one solely responsible for those actions before society, before the sports governing bodies and, if applicable, before justice.
“To be clear, this position was that of Mr Rubiales, not that of the Rfef. We feel especially sorry and ashamed for the pain and additional distress this has caused.”
Jill Scott says World Cup kiss saga ‘overshadowed’ Spanish women’s team playing ‘great football’
14:00 , Karl Matchett
Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott has voiced “disappointment” that the World Cup kiss saga has detracted attention from the Spanish women’s team win.
The former England midfielder told The Independent that issues within Spanish football have “overshadowed” the team’s “great football”.
Her comments come after the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales has come under sustained criticism for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain secured their 1-0 win over England last month.
Rubiales, who was also condemned for grabbing his crotch after Spain won the women’s world title for the first time in history, has refused to step down over his behaviour but was suspended by Fifa.
It comes as Jorge Vilda, head coach of Spain’s women’s team, was fired on Tuesday after he was among those who praised Rubiales’ refusal to step down.
Scott said she felt “disappointment” that the kiss has been “the main talking point”, rather than Spain actually winning the World Cup.
Jill Scott says World Cup kiss saga ‘overshadowed’ Spain playing ‘great football’
Woody Allen defends Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales amid sexual harassment scandal
13:45 , Karl Matchett
Woody Allen has spoken out in defence of Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales after he was condemned for kissing player Jenni Hermoso at the World Cup final.
The president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation has faced widespread criticism after kissing midfielder Hermoso on the lips following the game in August. While many have called for him to resign, controversial director Allen has now argued that Rubiales should keep his job.
Over the weekend, the Midnight in Paris filmmaker was in attendance at the Venice Film Festival to debut his 50th movie, the romantic-comedy Coup de Chance. The film was met with a five-minute standing ovation at a screening on Monday (4 September).
In an interview with Spanish-language publication El Mundo following the screening, the 87-year-old was asked about Rubiales, 46, kissing Hermoso, 33, after Spain beat England in the World Cup final.
In response, Allen said that the football boss should apologise to Hermoso, who has said that the kiss was not consensual. However, Allen argued that Rubiales shouldn’t lose his job over what he called “just a kiss”.
Woody Allen defends Spanish football boss amid sexual harassment scandal
Jorge Vilda says Spain sacking ‘unfair’ after World Cup win
13:30 , Karl Matchett
Jorge Vilda feels it was “unfair” for him to be sacked as Spain’s Women coach after winning the World Cup in the fallout from the scandal involving the Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales.
Vilda was the only member of the women’s national team coaching set-up not to resign in protest at the behaviour of Rubiales at the end of the World Cup final, but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) confirmed his dismissal on Tuesday afternoon.
The former head coach was seen applauding Rubiales at an emergency RFEF general assembly when he announced on August 25 that he would not resign over his actions in Sydney.
Jorge Vilda says Spain sacking ‘unfair’ after World Cup win
Luis Rubiales latest news and updates
13:15 , Karl Matchett
Spain’s women’s team coach Jorge Vilda has been sacked, the football federation (RFEF) said on Tuesday, 10 days after FIFA suspended RFEF’s president for kissing team player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth in celebration of Spain’s World Cup victory.
Vilda was replaced by his assistant, Montse Tome, who becomes the first woman to helm the women’s national team. She had been Vilda’s assistant coach since 2018 and has since “established herself as a key player in the national team’s growth”, the RFEF said in a statement.
A new board formed after RFEF President Luis Rubiales‘ suspension by soccer’s world governing body over the allegedly non-consensual kiss during the World Cup victory celebration two weeks ago terminated Vilda’s contract.
In a statement that gave no reason for his dismissal and did not mention Hermoso, Rubiales or the scandal, RFEF thanked 42-year-old Vilda for his “extraordinary sporting legacy”.
“The coach has been key to the remarkable growth of women’s football and leaves Spain as world champions and second in the FIFA rankings,” the RFEF statement said.
The furore involving Rubiales has quickly spiralled into a national debate over women’s rights and sexist behaviour.
In a separate statement by interim President Pedro Rocha, the RFEF apologised for Rubiales‘ “inappropriate conduct”.
“The damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and the values of football and sport as a whole have been enormous,” the three-page statement signed by Rocha said.
Vilda, considered a close ally of Rubiales, had been under fire since last year after 15 players staged a mutiny calling for his resignation because of inadequate coaching methods and calling for conditions to match those of the men’s squad.
Most of the players involved were cut from the squad even as some demands were met.
Danae Boronat, a sports presenter who interviewed Spain’s leading female players for her book “Don’t Call Them Girls, Call Them Footballers”, said players accused Vilda of micromanaging, such as instructing senior players what to say in interviews.
Vilda could not immediately be reached for comment. Rubiales did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Vilda and Luis de la Fuente, the men’s national team manager, applauded Rubiales when he refused to resign on Aug. 25 but later issued statements condemning his behaviour.
Rubiales had praised Vilda for the World Cup triumph and offered him a new four-year contract, increasing his annual salary to 500,000 euros ($536,000) from 160,000 euros.
Spain’s top 58 female players said they would not play for the national team under the existing leadership. An RFEF source told Reuters last week that players were now being consulted to see whether the removal of Vilda would change that.
Luis Rubiales speaks out to ‘continue defending myself’ over kiss scandal
13:08 , Karl Matchett
Under-fire Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has spoken out for the first time in a week and vowed to continue defending himself amid the ongoing kiss scandal following the Women’s World Cup final.
Rubiales kissed Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup victory celebrations, with Hermoso since explaining that the kiss was not consensual, despite the president’s insistence that it was.
Rubiales has repeatedly refused to resign or apologise for the incident despite being suspended by Fifa and growing cries from governments and football officials to step down.
The situation has somehow become even stranger since the 46-year-old repeatedly shouted ‘I will not resign, I will not resign’ during a press conference last Friday where he also called criticism of his actions ‘false feminism’, with his mother being hospitalised after locking herself in a church and going on hunger strike to object to the criticism of her son.
In his first public comments since 25 August, Rubiales has now expressed some regret about the situation but is still adamant the kiss was consensual and insists he will continue to defend himself to “prove the truth”.
Luis Rubiales speaks out to ‘continue defending myself’ over kiss scandal
Luis Rubiales latest news and updates
13:03 , Karl Matchett
Follow the Independent’s live blog for all the latest news and updates from Spain’s women’s team, president of the Rfef Luis Rubiales and more.
