Tag: luis rubiales

Carlota Ciganda addresses controversial kiss after Spain won Women’s World Cup

Spanish and European media gave a round of applause after Ciganda spoke up for the Spanish national team.

CASARES, Spain — After Spain won the soccer Women’s World Cup in August, the country’s triumph and subsequent celebrations were marred by the actions of Luis Rubiales, a former player and official who was serving as the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and as a vice president for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Rubiales kissed a Spanish player, Jennifer Hermoso, on the lips during the award ceremony, causing a firestorm of controversy for the weeks to come. Hermoso has been adamant the kiss wasn’t consensual. Rubiales has since resigned his position and was in court earlier this week, where a judge gave him a restraining order. The former Spanish official cannot be within 200 meters (656 feet) of Hermoso and the court in Madrid is considering a criminal complaint for sexual assault and coercion.

So what does this have to do with golf? Spain’s Carlota Ciganda was asked about the incident during her press conference ahead of the 2023 Solheim Cup this week at Finca Cortesin and her answer drew a round of applause from Spanish and European media. The following quotes have been translated from Spanish to English.

“I think it was a shame what happened in the end, when Spain won the World Cup, I think we should celebrate the World Cup because in the end that is not going to happen many times,” said Ciganda. “I think that (Rubiales) was obviously wrong, he doesn’t have to act like that, especially in such a public event, when you are in front of everyone.”

“Obviously of course I support the players and when so many people agree, obviously things have happened that we may not know,” she continued. “But I think the important thing is to celebrate the World Cup, which is what everyone should be very proud of, the country we have and the great athletes there are.”

Ciganda, 33, said it’s “a dream come true” and “pleasure” to represent the European team in her home country as she makes her sixth Solheim Cup appearance this week.

“I just love playing for our team.  When it comes to Solheim, it reminds me of when I used to play with Spain, like the European Team Championships.  I think match play, it’s a lot of fun because you have a winner at the end of the day of the match,” said Ciganda, who boasts a 7-8-4 record in the biennial event against the United States. “So I just love playing match play, playing for the team, for your teammates, for the captain.  I think that’s more fun than playing for yourself.  I do love that about this week and the atmosphere that we have.  I mean, the European team is always one united team and I love that.”

Despite being the lone Spaniard on the 12-player European side, the Pamplona native and resident doesn’t feel any added pressure to perform this week.

“I think more than pressure it’s just going to be excitement, adrenaline, and just fun. I’m going to embrace it and I think it’s going to be great to have all the support from Spain, from my family, lots of members from my club,” said Ciganda. “So I’m just going to try to go out there and enjoy.  I know I’m going to feel nervous and I’m going to feel that adrenaline.  I know I can play great golf with that, so I’m just going to enjoy and embrace every moment.”

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Hermoso gets hero’s welcome at Pachuca on same day Rubiales resigns

The Spain star played her first minutes since the World Cup final in a 2-1 Pachuca win over Pumas

Jenni Hermoso was given an emotional tribute on Sunday as she made her return to Pachuca after winning the World Cup with Spain.

The 33-year-old has been at the center of a global scandal surrounding an unwanted kiss from Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales in the aftermath of the World Cup final last month.

Hermoso has insisted the kiss was not consensual, with players and fans all over the globe uniting to support her.

Hermoso returned to her club team in Mexico on Sunday, ironically the same day that saw Rubiales finally resign amid weeks of intense pressure.

Fans at the Estadio Hidaldo unveiled a massive tifo of Hermoso, showing her lifting the World Cup trophy with the flags of Mexico and Spain on either side.

(Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Hermoso’s teammates would also give her a guard of honor as she entered the pitch wearing her World Cup winner’s medal.

Prior to the game, Hermoso was presented with a framed No. 10 jersey as she received a huge ovation from the crowd.

Pachuca would defeat Pumas 2-1 in the game, with Hermoso entering as an 85th minute substitution for her first minutes since she played the full match in a 1-0 World Cup final win over England on August 20.

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Luis Rubiales, the guy who wouldn’t resign, actually resigns

The Spain federation president has, both inevitably and also somewhat surprisingly, stepped aside

Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales has, both inevitably and also somewhat surprisingly, resigned.

Rubiales confirmed his resignation in an open letter published on Sunday, as well as in an interview with Piers Morgan.

“I have handed in my resignation to the acting president, Pedro Rocha,” Rubiales said in the letter. “I have also informed him that I have done the same with my position at UEFA, so that a replacement for my role as vice president can be sought.

“After the suspension by FIFA, in addition to the rest of the proceedings against me, it is clear that I will not be able to return to my position.”

As Rubiales mentioned, he has been under an intense amount of pressure stemming from his actions in the aftermath of the World Cup final on August 20.

Among other acts, Rubiales kissed Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips — an act Hermoso has insisted was not consensual.

Hermoso has filed a complaint with the country’s prosecutors office accusing Rubiales of sexual assault. Rubiales also remains under investigation by Spain’s top sport court (TAD) and by FIFA, which has issued him a preliminary 90-day suspension while its inquiry continues.

Spain’s entire World Cup-winning roster also said it was going on strike until the president is ousted.

Despite all of the pressure, Rubiales’s resignation also felt somewhat surprising due to his seemingly unending defiance in the face of scandal.

This was demonstrated most clearly in an August 25 speech, during which he refused to stand down as was expected. Even in his resignation letter, Rubiales continued to allude to his insistence that his kiss with Hermoso was consensual.

“My daughters, my family and the people who love me have suffered the effects of unconscionable persecution, as well as many falsehoods, but it is also true that on the street, every day more and more, the truth is prevailing,” he said.

Aside from the huge pressure campaign against him, Rubiales also hinted at another potentially significant reason for his resignation: the perception that his continued presence was damaging Spain’s bid for the 2030 World Cup, which also includes Portugal, Morocco and Ukraine.

“I am taking this decision after having made sure that my departure will contribute to the stability that will allow both Europe and Africa to remain united in the dream of 2030,” he said.

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Hermoso files sexual assault complaint against Rubiales

The fallout continues from the federation president’s non-consensual kiss

Spain forward Jennifer Hermoso has filed a complaint with the country’s prosecutors office accusing Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales of sexual assault.

Rubiales sparked worldwide outrage when he kissed Hermoso on the lips after the World Cup final on August 20 — an act Hermoso has insisted was not consensual.

Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into Rubiales on August 28, with Hermoso’s complaint the next step that will allow the Spanish justice system to pursue charges against the RFEF president.

According to the AP, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty.

Rubiales has apologized for his actions following the World Cup final, which Spain won 1-0 over England, but has refused to resign from his post despite heavy pressure to do so.

After a defiant speech on August 25 in which Rubiales insisted the kiss was consensual and refused to step down, Spain’s entire World Cup-winning roster said it was going on strike until the president is ousted.

In addition to the complaint filed by Hermoso, Rubiales remains under investigation by Spain’s top sport court (TAD) and by FIFA, which has issued him a preliminary 90-day suspension while its inquiry continues.

With Rubiales suspended, acting RFEF president Pedro Rocha announced on Tuesday that women’s national team head coach Jorge Vilda — a controversial figure who was strongly backed by Rubiales — had been fired.

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Vilda sacked as Spain women’s head coach amid ongoing upheaval

The manager was removed amid a tumultuous period for Spanish soccer and society as a whole

Spain women’s national team head coach Jorge Vilda has been sacked after a controversial reign that ended with a World Cup title last month.

With Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales currently suspended over his behavior in the aftermath of the World Cup final, acting president Pedro Rocha confirmed the decision to fire Vilda on Tuesday.

“The RFEF, in one of the first renovation measures announced by president Pedro Rocha, has decided to dispense with the services of Jorge Vilda,” a statement read.

The federation also announced that Vilda’s former assistant Montse Tomé has been named his successor. Tomé is the first woman to be head coach of the Spain women’s national team.

Vilda had been at the helm since 2015, with the final year of his time in charge marked by significant turmoil.

In September 2022, 15 players wrote letters to the federation, decrying Vilda for both a lack of appropriate preparation for games and refusing to grant players privacy, among other issues.

Rubiales swiftly leapt to Vilda’s defense, not only keeping the coach in charge but demanding an apology from the 15 players if they wished to represent the national team again.

Of the group of 15, only three were named to the 23-player roster that lifted the World Cup in Sydney last month.

Even with the World Cup win, the RFEF has been under pressure to dismiss Vilda for some time and finally did so on Tuesday, amid a tumultuous period that has seen Rubiales receive worldwide condemnation for his behavior in the aftermath of the World Cup final.

Rubiales kissed Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips after the game against England — an act Hermoso has insisted was not consensual. His refusal to resign has led to Spain’s entire World Cup-winning roster going on strike until he is ousted.

Prior to announcing Vilda’s dismissal, the RFEF released a statement apologizing for everything that has occurred following the World Cup final.

“The RFEF wants to convey to the whole of society and to the whole of world football its deepest regret for what has happened, which has tarnished our national team, our football and our society,” the statement reads. “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 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.”

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Spanish court puts road block on government actions against Rubiales

Rubiales is facing multiple proceedings

The Spanish government’s attempts to remove Luis Rubiales from his post have hit a speed bump.

The country’s Administrative Sports Court (TAD) has started proceedings against Rubiales, the Spanish federation (RFEF) president, but only under statutes applying to “serious” breaches of conduct.

That designation, rather than the “very serious” label the government had sought, means that while Rubiales could receive a two-year ban after the court’s investigation, the government’s sports council cannot suspend him on its own.

The court “only considers the [charges] serious. We believe that they are very serious,” said Spain’s minister of culture and sports, Miquel Iceta. “The Superior Sports Council itself could have directly suspended Mr. Rubiales if they were very serious. But as TAD have not qualified it as such, it is up to the court itself. We will file a request for them to [designate the charges as very serious].”

Rubiales has refused to step down despite national and international pressure over his actions in the immediate aftermath of Spain’s World Cup final victory over England. Most notably, Rubiales kissed attacker Jenni Hermoso on the lips just after she had received her winner’s medal, an incident that the Pachuca star has repeatedly said was not consensual.

The federation’s lack of willingness to act against Rubiales has resulted in public demonstrations in Spain, and a strike by the entire squad just after lifting the World Cup trophy. Last week, FIFA suspended Rubiales for 90 days.

Spanish prosecutors have launched a preliminary investigation into whether Rubiales’ conduct could result in criminal charges.

Rubiales issues yet another denial

Not long after the TAD decision went public Friday, Rubiales issued yet another denial of wrongdoing, echoing his previous statements on the matter.

Rubiales apologized for what he called “obvious mistakes,” only to once again insist the kiss was consensual.

“The spontaneity and happiness of the historic moment led us to carry out a mutual and consented act, the product of great enthusiasm. At no time was there any aggression, indeed, there was not even the slightest discomfort, but an overflowing joy in both,” said Rubiales in his written statement.

The latest chapter is somewhat confusing, as this latest statement seems to only reiterate his previous insistences. With Rubiales’ insistence that the kiss was not problematic, it is unclear exactly which actions he has been apologizing for. Amid the celebrations, Rubiales gestured towards his crotch, grabbed multiple players, and at one point was seen on an Instagram story declaring that he would marry Hermoso in Ibiza.

In any case, the RFEF has named Pedro Rocha as its interim president, and has since demanded that Rubiales resign. FIFA also retains the option to ban Rubiales under its own disciplinary process, which is where his current ban stems from. UEFA would seemingly also have the power to open its own proceedings against Rubiales, but president Aleksander Čeferin told L’Equipe on Wednesday that he didn’t see a point in doing so.

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Spain men’s head coach apologizes for applauding Rubiales speech

Luis de la Fuente is sorry for applauding, but said he would not resign

Spain men’s national team head coach Luis de la Fuente has apologized after he was seen applauding last week’s defiant speech by embattled Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales.

Rubiales was reported to be on the verge of resigning over his kiss on the lips of Spain star Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup final — an act Hermoso has insisted was not consensual.

Instead, the RFEF president delivered a diatribe in which he insisted he wouldn’t resign, called out “false feminists” who opposed him and declared that Hermoso had consented to the kiss, among many other talking points.

As Rubiales went on, he was applauded by a host of Spanish officials in the crowd, including de la Fuente and Spain’s women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda.

Amid heavy criticism, de la Fuente has offered an apology for his seeming endorsement of Rubiales’s speech though, much like Rubiales himself, the Spain men’s coach has insisted he will not resign.

“I have been criticized harshly for it. I believe that criticism was deserved, I understand it and I apologize,” de la Fuente said at a press conference on Friday after he named his roster for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Georgia and Cyprus.

“I don’t think I have to resign. I don’t have to resign, I have to ask for forgiveness,” he added. “Right now, if I could go back, I wouldn’t [applaud], I’m sure of it. I’ve made reference to it before: I’m on the side of equality and respect.”

Rubiales has been handed a provisional 90-day suspension by FIFA, and the entire Spain women’s national team has gone on strike until he is ousted.

De la Fuente added that he has not yet reached out to Hermoso.

“She is going through a difficult moment,” the coach said, then added: “Perhaps I lacked courage [to reach out to her].”

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Luis Rubiales’s mother would like some food now, thanks

Ángeles Béjar has ended her hunger strike after nearly three days

After a brief trip to the hospital, Ángeles Béjar has ended her hunger strike in support of her embattled son, Spanish federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales.

Béjar declared a hunger strike on Monday, saying she would stay inside the Divina Pastora church in Motril, Spain until the “inhuman, bloodthirsty witch hunt which my son is being subjected to” came to an end.

Rubiales remains under intense pressure after kissing Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips following the World Cup final, an act Hermoso insisted was not consensual.

Despite increasing calls for his resignation, Rubiales has insisted he will stay in his post, even after a provisional 90-day suspension by FIFA and the entire Spain women’s national team going on strike until he is ousted.

Amid the firestorm surrounding her son, Béjar locked herself inside the Divina Pastora church until Wednesday when, according to a priest at the church identifying himself as Father Antonio, she began to feel “anguished and dizzy.”

“I need to tell you that she has had a crisis, she has worsened and they needed to take her urgently to the hospital,” Father Antonio told reporters outside the church around 6:15 p.m.

“So she’s not here anymore, she had to leave for the hospital because the woman was already tired and had lots of issues already, even some anemic issues so she had to leave.”

According to EFE and the Europa Press, Béjar was treated at the hospital until she was released at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Both outlets reported that Béjar had ended her hunger strike.

EFE added that Béjar “is progressing favorably as she has responded satisfactorily to the treatment.”

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Rubiales saga take bizarre turn as Spain federation president’s mother goes on hunger strike

The ongoing saga of the Spanish federation president has taken a turn for the bizarre

The ongoing saga of Spanish federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales has taken a turn for the bizarre, as his mother has locked herself inside a church and declared a hunger strike.

Ángeles Béjar has said she will stay inside the Divina Pastora church in Motril, Spain, until justice for her embattled son is served.

Rubiales is under fire for kissing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips in the aftermath of Spain’s World Cup triumph — an act Hermoso has insisted was not consensual.

The RFEF president, however, continues to say that Hermoso did consent and in a fiery speech on Friday, said he would not resign despite increasing pressure to do so.

Speaking to EFE, Béjar decried the “inhuman, bloodthirsty witch hunt which my son is being subjected to” and said that “there is no sexual abuse when there is consent on both sides, as shown in the images.”

Béjar’s claims echo those from a bizarre RFEF statement released on Friday night, which analyzed the interaction between Rubiales and Hermoso in excruciatingly detailed fashion, coming to the conclusion that Hermoso was lying when she said the president’s kiss was not consensual.

Rubiales’s cousin Vanessa Ruiz said that Béjar is “a very religious person who has gone on hunger strike and does not want to leave the church,” adding that she has “health problems and is suffering a lot.”

On Saturday, FIFA announced that its Disciplinary Committee had provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days amid an ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, Spain’s entire World Cup-winning squad has said they’re on strike until the “current leaders” are no longer in power.

“[Rubiales] is a beautiful person, with a very good heart and very noble, whoever knows him knows it,” Ruiz added. “We think what they are doing with him is very unfair.”

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FIFA hands Spanish federation president Rubiales 90-day suspension

He might not resign, but Rubiales is still sidelined

Luis Rubiales may not want to go, but he’s going to have to sit things out for a few months.

On Saturday, FIFA announced that its Disciplinary Committee had provisionally suspended the controversial Spanish federation (RFEF) president for 90 days while working through proceedings against him.

Rubiales is suspended “from all football-related activities at national and international level,” and has additionally been ordered to make no attempts himself or through third parties to contact Jenni Hermoso or those close to her. The RFEF has also, as an organization, been given the same directive while the disciplinary proceedings take place.

Rubiales had been reportedly on the brink of resigning Friday after coming under intense criticism for, among other things, kissing Hermoso as Spain received their medals following a triumphant World Cup final. Hermoso has issued a statement saying that she did not consent to the kiss at any point.

Instead, Rubiales launched into a defiant speech in which he said he would not resign numerous times. Whatever Rubiales’ aim was, the result was that Spain’s entire World Cup-winning squad said they’re on strike until the “current leaders” are no longer in power.

RFEF situation continues to unravel

Anyone expecting the RFEF to accept that the situation requires change on its part has not been paying attention. The federation backed manager Jorge Vilda after 15 players attempted a strike in 2022, and took to social media to reiterate that stance after the World Cup final.

An RFEF statement that was released and then quickly deleted on Saturday said that “Jennifer Hermoso lies in every statement she makes against the president,” and went on to threaten to take legal action against the Pachuca attacker.

The consequences for the RFEF continued not long afterward, as 11 members of Vilda’s staff resigned from their roles over Rubiales’ conduct.

— Carrusel Deportivo (@carrusel) August 26, 2023

The RFEF later posted a more brief statement acknowledging Rubiales’ suspension, adding that the federation head “will legally defend himself in the competent bodies.”

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