Understand the crisis that shook the Spanish national team in the World Cup – 08/26/2023 – Sport

Most of Spain’s coaching staff that led the country’s women’s team to victory in the World Cup, with the exception of coach Jorge Vilda, resigned in the face of the dispute involving Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF, in the acronym). in Spanish). The announcement was made this Saturday.

This is yet another chapter in the serious crisis that Spanish football is going through after the country’s women’s team won the World Cup, last Sunday (20), by 1-0, against England.

In celebration of the title, Rubiales kissed the lips of player Jenni Hermoso. She says the kiss was not consensual. The manager, on the other hand, claims that the 33-year-old attacker allowed the act.

Assistant coaches Montse Tome, Javier Lerga and Eugenio Gonzalo Martin, along with physiotherapist Blanca Romero Moraleda and goalkeeping coach Carlos Sanchez, have resigned.

Six other professionals who work in the selection also resigned from their positions.

Even with the unprecedented title, the achievement was overshadowed by the episode. Below we list the moments that reflect the serious crisis in Spanish football.

TITLE AND KISS

Spain won its first World Cup in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday.

Moments after the end of the match, in celebration of the unprecedented achievement, the president of the Spanish Federation, Luis Rubiales, kissed striker Jenni Hermoso.

Hermoso initially said on Instagram that he “didn’t like” Rubiales’ actions. She said the kiss was not consensual, but the player’s version of events is disputed by Rubiales.

The federation says it will take legal action against the player.

On Friday (25), Hermoso released a long statement on social networks:

“I want to make it clear that the conversation that Mr. Luis Rubiales refers to in his speech never took place and, above all, that the kiss was never consensual.”

The striker, who plays for Mexican club Pachuca, added that the manager’s statements are “categorically false and are part of the manipulative culture he has generated. I was simply not respected.”

REPERCUSSION AND PROTESTS

Rubiales’ behavior attracted much criticism and protests, with Spanish government ministers demanding his resignation.

Rubiales apologized for the kiss on Monday (21), but Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said it was “not enough” and Second Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz joined those in pleading. his resignation.

Beatriz Alvarez, president of Liga F, Spain’s top women’s league, criticized the manager: “His ego is greater than his dignity and honor.”

“I think more people will join [às mobilizações de protesto contra o cartola]given the lack of determination of Luis Rubiales [em renunciar]other people are starting to speak out,” he said.

On Thursday, FIFA said it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales, and the RFEF called an extraordinary general meeting on Friday.

‘I will not resign’

On Friday (25), during the extraordinary meeting of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales again stated that the kiss was consensual and that he would not resign from office.

“False feminism is a great scourge in this country. This is social murder. Do you believe that this witch hunt is necessary? I will not resign, I will not resign,” said Rubiales.

He also stated that the kiss was “just a peck” like the one he gives one of his daughters.

After the speech, Rubiales received a standing ovation from the audience at the event. Among the cheering spectators was Spain men’s national team coach Luis De la Fuente.

This Saturday, De la Fuente took the opposite position, criticizing the leader. “Luis Rubiales’ behavior did not respect the minimum protocol that must be followed in these commemorative acts.”

“They are neither uplifting nor appropriate for a person who represented all of Spanish football. He himself has publicly acknowledged the inappropriateness of his behaviour,” wrote the coach.

Resignation of coaching staff and FIFA hook

In a resignation statement, the 11 professionals on the coaching staff criticized Rubiales’ stance and defended Jenni Hermoso:

“Those mentioned below express their firm and forceful condemnation of the conduct demonstrated by the president of the RFEF. He told a story that in no way reflects what Jenni Hermoso felt, who expressly stated that she felt ‘victim of aggression’. Given the attitudes and unacceptable statements by the President, they have taken the decision to step down from their duties”.

The coach of the women’s national team, Jorge Vilda, is an ally of Rubiales and so far remains in charge.

On Friday, the manager said he wanted to sign a new four-year contract with the coach. The salary would be 500 thousand euros (about R$ 2.6 million) per year.

Last year, Vilda held on in charge of the team even after a revolt by the players. At the time, 15 athletes sent identical emails to team management saying they would not play unless “significant” concerns about “emotional state” and “health” were addressed.

On Saturday night, however, Vilda issued a statement classifying the moment of the kiss as “inappropriate and unacceptable”.

“There is no doubt that it is unacceptable and does not reflect at all the principles and values ​​that I defend in my life, in sport in general and football in particular. of Spanish sport and women’s sport,” he said.

Earlier on Saturday, FIFA announced the decision to “provisionally suspend Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level”.

In response, the RFEF said Rubiales would “legally defend himself”.

World football’s top governing body also ordered Rubiales or any representative of the Spanish federation to refrain from trying to get in touch with Jenni Hermoso.