The greatest success of Spanish women’s football when it was proclaimed the world champion Spanish team by defeating England in the final, unleashed an unprecedented scandal at the end of the game whose repercussions have lasted three weeks until culminating with the resignation of Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. This is the chronology of the monumental commotion.
20th of August
Luis Rubiales effusively celebrates the title, taking right hand to crotch in a crude gesture of complicity with Jorge Vilda, the coach. At the awarding of medals hugs and kisses Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth.
August 21
The Government describes Rubiales’ actions as “unacceptable.” The acting Minister of Culture and Sports, Miquel Iceta, urges him to “give explanations and apologize”, while other ministers, such as Ione Belarra and Irene Montero, describe the episode “sexual violence.”
August 22nd
It transpires that Rubiales, who broadcasts a video through the RFEF’s social networks apologizing, wanted to pressure Hermoso to issue a statement giving her version relativizing what happened or appear in the video, to which she refused.
August 23rd
The American soccer player Megan Rapinoe accuses Rubiales of being a misogynist and denounces that Hermoso was “physically harassed”, thus joining the stupefied international reactions that are occurring of rejection and condemnation of what happened.
August 24
Jenni Hermoso calls for “exemplary measures” against Rubiales through a statement issued by her agency in the Futpro union.
August 25th
“I’m not going to resign,” Rubiales repeats several times in the convened assembly, where he tries to describe what happened to affirm that the kiss was “a consensual beak.” He calls to fight “false feminism” and uses his daughters to defend himself. The vast majority of those present applauded him.
Hours later, Hermoso denies that the kiss was “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual” as the leader had said. He classifies it as ““impulsive, sexist act, out of place and without any type of consent on my part.” and he assures that he felt “vulnerable and victim of aggression.”
26 of August
FIFA uses article 51 of the Disciplinary Code to decree “the provisional suspension” of Luis Rubiales “of all activities related to football at a national and international level.” Said suspension will have an “initial period of ninety days.”
Pedro Rocha, president of the Extremadura federation and vice president of the RFEF, replaces Rubiales at the head of the organization. A statement is issued to refute Hermoso’s version with some photos. “The evidence is conclusive and the President does not lie,” reads in the text, where the more than 80 players who have signed a resignation from the national team are threatened as long as the current leaders continue.
Eleven members of the technical staff of the women’s team present their resignation of their positions. From the second coach, Montse Tomé, to several assistant coaches from the youth teams. Not so Jorge Vilda, the top manager.
August 28
Ángeles Bejar, Rubiales’ mother, He locks himself in the Divina Pastora church of Motril and declares a hunger strike to protest “the inhumane and bloody hunting” he suffers. She announces that she will be indefinite, but three days later she is evacuated by ambulance. She was accompanied by her sister in the bull run.
The Prosecutor’s Office of the National Court opens proceedings against the leader and complaint for sexual assault and coercion after Jenni Hermoso had testified at the headquarters of the State Attorney General’s Office.
August 29
The Higher Sports Council (CSD) sends the Sports Administrative Court (TAD) the information required to open a file against Rubiales for “a very serious offense” in the events that occurred in the stadium, understanding that they were “abuse of authority” and “acts against dignity and sporting decorum.”
August 31
The TAD considers that it is not a “very serious” offense, but only “serious.” This reduction prevents the Government from suspending Rubiales and faces the leader with a financial fine and a maximum disqualification of two years.
“In the name of feminism you should not try to bring down a man,” says Rubiales in a statement, insisting that the kiss was “a mutual and consensual act, a product of great enthusiasm. At no time was there any aggression, in fact , there was not even the slightest discomfort, but rather an overflowing joy in both. The RFEF has withdrawn his salary, official car and electronic devices.
September 1st
Luis de la Fuente, the national coach, confirmed in office by Pedro Rocha, apologizes for the applause with which he had celebrated Rubiales’ speech on the 25th. He classified it as “human error” being “overcome” by events.
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, writes on Instagram: “Unfortunately, the well-deserved celebration of these magnificent champions was marred by what happened after the final whistle. And what continued to happen in the days that followed. This should never have happened. But it did, and FIFA’s disciplinary bodies took responsibility. immediately assume its responsibility, taking the necessary measures. The disciplinary procedures will follow their legitimate course.”
September 2
The Government asks the TAD for the precautionary suspension of Rubiales because the case “is affecting the image of Spanish sport and of Spain.” Pedro Sánchez reproaches him for the same: “One cannot aspire to represent Spain with attitudes and speeches that embarrass us.”
4th of September
The captains of the national team (Álvaro Morata, Rodrigo, Azpilicueta and Marco Asensio) present a statement read by Morata. They congratulate their teammates for the world title, they sympathize with them for having seen their success tarnished, they reject Rubiales’ “unacceptable behavior” and ask to focus on “sports issues.”
September 5
Jorge Vilda is fired from the position of women’s coach, although the coach considers himself renewed after Rubiales’ public announcement on August 25. He replaces him the Asturian Montse Toméhis right hand in recent years.
September 8th
The Prosecutor’s Office of the National Court files a complaint against the former president for an alleged crime of sexual assault and other coercion after hearing Hermoso’s statement on September 5 before the prosecutor and accompanied by her lawyer. The soccer player confirmed that the kiss occurred without her consent. She also stated that she was the victim of “constant pressure” and even “harassment” so that she would not accuse Rubiales.
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11 of September
After midnight, the RFEF issues a statement in which it confirms that “Luis M. Rubiales Béjar has presented his resignation tonight. This has been made known to the federative entity through a letter to Pedro Rocha Junco. In addition, he also resigns from his position as vice-president of UEFA”.