The The Royal Spanish Football Federation has issued a statement on Tuesday in which it apologizes “to the world of soccer and to society as a whole” for the acts of Luis Rubiales during the World Cup final and the moments after the game, delving into the image that the federal entity wants to break ties with its now suspended president.
In the format of an institutional declaration signed by the interim president, Pedro Rochathe text released by the RFEF highlights that the current leaders “we feel especially sorry and ashamed for the pain and the anguish added that this has caused“, in relation to the performances of Rubiales.
“The actions of Mr. Rubiales do not represent the values defended by the Spanish Federation, nor the values of the whole of Spanish society and his performance must be attributed solely and exclusively to him“, continues the statement, in which the RFEF says it acquires a “firm and absolute commitment that events like these can never happen again.”
In addition, Rocha emphasizes in his letter that the “a review of the organization’s current management structures” and highlights the “unanimous and firm commitment to have a whole set of actions in the coming days to improve the governance of the Spanish football federation and make it possible to repair, as far as possible, the damage caused”.
This is the full statement:
The Royal Spanish Football Federation, through its President, Mr. Pedro Rocha, considers it essential to request the most sincere apologies to world football as a whole, football institutions (FIFA, UEFA, FN), footballers, especially the players of the Spanish Soccer Team and the English Soccer Team, the other agents involved in soccer and the fans from all over the world, for the totally unacceptable behavior of their highest institutional representative during the final and at the moments later, that do not respond at all to the values of the Spanish society as a whole, of its institutions, of its representatives, of its athletes and of the leaders of Spanish sport. Spanish society is an example of tolerance and civility, in all social and political spheres, and has been an example of sporting behavior and decorum, as it has demonstrated for decades in all the sporting events in which it has participated; and that nobility and international prestige of our society and our sport have been marred in recent days by the performance of Luis M. Rubiales.
The damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and to the values of football and sport as a whole has been enormous.
The RFEF wants to convey to society as a whole and to world football as a whole its deepest regret for what has happened that has tarnished our team, our football and our society. We feel deeply sorry for the damage caused and for this reason, from this RFEF we must ask for the most sincere apologies and acquire a firm and absolute commitment that events like these can never happen again.
Both the governing bodies of the world of football -FIFA-, as well as the bodies responsible for sport at the state level -Consejo Superior de Deportes CSD and Tribunal Administrativo del Deporte TAD- have immediately adopted the corresponding measures, for the immediate opening of separate disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Luis Rubiales and which entail, in the case of FIFA’s decision, the immediate suspension of his functions as president of the RFEF. The RFEF is providing all the documentary and administrative support that is required from both disciplinary bodies in order to have a definitive resolution as soon as possible that allows compensation for the damage caused.
Winning the World Cup was one of the proudest moments in the history of the Spanish Federation and one of the most important moments in Spanish sport, women’s soccer, without a doubt. The actions of Mr. Rubiales both at that time and in the hours that followed are not acceptable under any circumstances and for this reason the RFEF immediately removed from its website all those inappropriate and meaningless communications that did not value what was achieved by the National Team and did not take into account the player’s statements about these facts.
The actions of Mr. Rubiales do not represent the values defended by the Spanish Federation, nor the values of Spanish society as a whole and his actions must be attributed solely and exclusively to him, since he is solely responsible for his actions. actions before societybefore the sports bodies and, if applicable, before the courts.
To make it clear, this position was that of Mr. Rubiales, not that of the RFEF. We are especially sorry and embarrassed by the additional pain and anguish this has caused.
We regret that this incident has negatively impacted what should have been an ongoing celebration of football, both for our national team and for the Lionesses” from England, who were a truly extraordinary opponent in a thrilling final.
On Monday, August 28, 2023, the RFEF issued a statement in which the presidents of the Autonomous Federations unanimously demanded the resignation of Mr. Rubiales as President of the RFEF for his improper conduct. A review of the current management structures was also announced of the organization, which is still running.
In this regard, in order to protect Spanish football and ensure that these behaviors are not repeated, a thorough investigation into the events and subsequent measures taken by Mr. Rubiales was immediately launched. At the same time, all the presidents of the member federations of the Spanish Federation demanded the immediate resignation of the president and have promised to carry out a thorough review of all the organization’s policies and procedures. The commitment of all of them is unanimous and firm to have in the next few days a whole set of actions that improve the governance of the Spanish football federation and make it possible to repair, as far as possible, the damage caused. The RFEF must act in coordination with the Superior Council of Sports to serve the general interests of Spanish sport.
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We have privately sent this statement to the relevant authorities and institutions, which we are now making public.
Lastly, I want to once again congratulate our team on their historic victory, recognizing the impact and legacy that their victory will have on the future of Spanish football. We are convinced that his spirit has inspired millions of people of all ages, and we cannot be more proud of the way they have behavedboth on and off the pitch. In due course, I intend to bring them back into the limelight and celebrate their achievements as they deserve.