Luis Rubiales: Spanish FA calls ‘extraordinary and urgent’ meeting over Women’s World Cup kiss row | Football News
The Spanish football federation has called an “extraordinary and urgent” meeting over the Women’s World Cup kissing row.
Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has refused to step down from his role as the federation’s president but has been suspended by FIFA after he kissed women’s team player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s 1-0 win against England last Sunday.
He was widely expected to resign at a meeting on Friday but instead made a defiant speech, claiming he was the victim of a witch-hunt by “false feminists”.
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Support is growing for Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s team after they said they will not play any matches for the country until Luis Rubiales has been removed from his job
Spain’s women’s team coach Jorge Vilda described the crisis as “a real nonsense” that has “tarnished a well-deserved victory” for the players and the country.
The Spanish federation’s interim president Pedro Rocha has called the meeting on Monday “to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself” and look at “the decisions or actions to be taken”, a spokesman said on Sunday.
An internal investigation has also been launched after the federation’s sexual violence protocol was activated.
Maria Dolores Martinez Madrona, the protocol’s protection delegate who is conducting the investigation, said in a statement “we demand the utmost respect for the right to privacy and dignity of every person involved”.
Hermoso has said that “in no moment” did she consent to the kiss.
On Saturday, she appeared among spectators at the Women’s Cup final between Atletico Madrid and AC Milan – and was applauded by the crowd.
Players at the match held a banner reading: “With you Jennifer Hermoso”.
More to follow…
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