LAURA WOODS has slammed Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales for refusing to resign amid his ongoing kiss scandal.
Rubiales, 46, grabbed and kissed Spain forward Jenni Hermoso, 33, on the lips following Spain’s 1-0 World Cup final win over England on Sunday.
Hermoso has since admitted she did not consent to the kiss, despite Rubiales claiming that she did.
The RFEF – Royal Spanish Football Federation – president has received widespread criticism as a result, with 81 Spain stars now refusing to play for the women’s team until he is dismissed.
Rubiales rejected the chance to resign from his position during an emergency press conference on Friday and blamed “false feminism” for his “social assassination”.
And the Spanish Football Federation are now defending him by threatening legal action against Hermoso and her international teammates.
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Several players and pundits have since shown their support for the forward, including ITV and TNT Sports presenter Woods.
The 36-year-old heavily criticised the RFEF in a passionate rant on Friday afternoon.
In a social media thread, Woods tweeted: “Luis Rubiales letting his mask slip while The World was watching SHOULD be the final warning in a long & exhausted list of warnings that have been ignored.
“A microscopic look into The Spanish FA’s behaviour towards & treatment of The Women’s National Team & its failure to listen to the 15 that protested against their coach Jorge Vilda is embarrassingly overdue.
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“On Rubiales, he either didn’t know his behaviour (and previous) was wrong, OR…he did, and did it anyway. For someone in his position, one reason is surely as dangerous as the other.
“Best case – Rubiales should not hold that much power with so little self awareness.
“This actually isn’t trial by social media…it’s a pattern of behaviour being called out in a way that can’t be ignored any longer.
“And if some sort of justice is served, perhaps a ‘social assassination’ as Rubiales calls it, is exactly what was needed.”
World Cup runners-up England have also expressed support for the national team.
The Lionesses released a joint statement on Friday evening which read: “Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation.
“Abuse is abuse and we have all seen the truth.
“The behaviour of those who think they are invincible must not be tolerated and people shouldn’t need convincing to take action against any form of harassment.
“We all stand with you, Jenni Hermoso and all players of the Spanish team.”
Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias became the first men’s player to take action against the RFEF this week when he announced that he will go on strike from international football until the issue is resolved.
He tweeted: “I am sad and disappointed.
“As a footballer and as a person I don’t feel represented by what happened today in the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas. I find it unfortunate that they continue to press and focus on a colleague.
“Wearing the Spanish national team shirt is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my career.
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“I don’t know if at some point I will be an option again, but I have made the decision not to return to the national team until things change and this type of act does not go unpunished.
“For a fairer, more humane and decent football.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
