Spain’s national soccer players have condemned the behavior of their association president Luis Rubiales in the kiss scandal. Even before training, the team’s captains addressed the media in the press conference room in Las Rozas near Madrid.
In a statement read by Álvaro Morata, they wanted to comment on issues that would have damaged the image of Spanish football. “We want to reject the behavior of Mr Rubiales, which from our point of view was unacceptable and does not do justice to the institution he represents,” Morata said.
The 46-year-old Rubiales kissed player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth after the Spaniards’ World Cup triumph at the award ceremony in Sydney. Despite massive criticism and calls for his resignation, he has so far refused to give up his post. However, Rubiales was suspended for 90 days by the World Football Association.
He himself had countered at an extraordinary general assembly of the association and spoke of a “false feminism” that wanted to hunt him down. Rubiales also said the kiss was consensual. Hermoso disagreed.
Spain’s men’s team once again congratulated the women on winning the World Cup, calling it a milestone and an invaluable triumph.
They also expressed their solidarity after the women’s success was marred by the incident. All players were present when the statement was made.