Rubiales backlash grows as Barcelona, Alexia Putellas, Sevilla FC, Aitana, De Gea... add voice to protest

Despite everything pointing to Luis Rubiales standing down on Friday morning, the executive surprised many as he sensationally refused to resign as president of the Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF) at the organisation’s emergency EGM, which was hastily called after the 46-year-old was seen kissing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips after La Roja had won the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history at Stadium Australia in Sydney last Sunday.

It had been widely believed that Rubiales would announce that he would be stepping down from his position following the huge backlash he has received, but he instead came out on the defensive and accused numerous parties of orchestrating a “witch-hunt” against him criticizing Spain’s ‘false feminism’ which he maintained was a ‘scourge’ in the country .

Rubiales position however is still under threat and the manner in which the Las Palmas born has conducted himself has drawn widespread condemnation due to aggressive approach and belligerent language.

Anger grows

The anger and frustration from within the game at Rubiales position started to grow as Friday afternoon evolved with many players from the Spain World Cup winning side including the likes of two time Balon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati who won the Golden Ball at the competition citing their anger and showing solidarity with Hermoso. Dissent also came from players who made up ‘the 15′ (Spain players who withdrew their services from the national team in 2022 as they were unhappy with many aspects within the Spanish FA) with the likes of Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro.

Clubs in LaLiga too have added their voices with the likes of FC Barcelona, Espanyol, Cadiz and Sevilla FC issuing statements condemning Rubiales ‘unacceptable behavior’ and calling for the president to stand aside.

“Sevilla FC does not feel represented by the highest authority figure in Spanish football and, in fact, actively opposes such behaviors within the football world. Individuals in positions of power should promote respect and equality, values that Sevilla holds at its core”.

A series of high profile male players too have used their social media platforms to condemn Rubiales with the likes of Iker Casillas, David de Gea, Borja Iglesias, Sergi Roberto and Hector Bellerin all expressing their position after Rubiales made his position clear at the EGM on Friday.

What happens now?

The government body CSD (Spain’s National Sports Council, essentially Spain’s department of sport) have already revealed that they have submitted the complaints filed against him to the TAD (the Spanish Administrative Sports Court), who could ban Rubiales from holding office from anywhere between two to 15 years, if they decide he has committed an offence. In the time being, Rubiales will be suspended, which come come into effect as early as Friday.

As he hinted at in his speech, Rubiales could also face criminal action after Miguel Ángel Galán, the president of Cenafe, the Spanish national school for soccer coaches, filed a complaint to the Prosecutor’s Office in Madrid and the State Attorney General’s Office.

FIFA, meanwhile, have opened disciplinary proceedings against him based on his behaviour, which “may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code”.

Everything points to the Canary Islander’s position as president as being untenable but as he demonstrated, the 46-year-old has no intention of standing aside by his own volition.