Women’s World Cup 2023

SCANDAL has long surrounded the embattled head of the Spanish Football Association before his now infamous kiss with Jenni Hermosa.Chief Luis Rubiales has been accused of group “orgies” allegedly paid for with business funds, inappropriate comments to employees and more.
Luis Rubiales has had a long history of controversy in his relatively short careerCredit: Getty
The unwanted kiss has sparked outrage around the worldCredit: Rex
He’s been at the centre of scandals for yearsCredit: Getty
And he once suggested his enemies would seek to plant a “bag of cocaine” on him in a bid to discredit him.
Playing as a defender for Spanish teams including Mallorca B, Xerez and Levate, he first made headlines in the late 2000s while striking alongside his teammates over unpaid wages.
In 2010, after retiring from playing, he became president of the Association of Spanish Footballers union.
He took up his current position as FA chief in 2017, which he’s been called upon to resign from after heavy criticism following his most recent controversy in the Women’s World Cup.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Marketing manager for Spain’s Football Player Association, Tamara Ramos, claimed last week that Rubiales would ask her what colour underwear she had on in her time at the association, before he left in 2017.
Rubiales was also has blamed for Spain’s loss in the 2018 FIFA World Cup after dismissing the men’s coach on the eve of their first match in the tournament.
Multiple women have come forward with accusations ranging from “misogyny to sexual harassment”, and some allegations say he used public funds for “orgies.”
Rubiales previously even booted his own uncle – chief of staff at FA Madrid’s headquarters – after he alleged Rubiales had organised a “private party” with “eight or 10 young girls” and made him pay for it with association funds.
Most read in Football
The women allegedly attended the “orgies” under the pretext of a “work event”, with their fees “paid for” by the football federation, according to Rubiales’ uncle.
Juan Rubiales said: “A group of eight or 10 young girls was invited by the President’s friend and former player Nene.”
Rubiales always insisted there was no party and that the event was actually for work purposes, but admitted there was a “barbecue with friends”.
“There was also some leisure time, with a barbecue with friends — men and women,” he said.
“It seems now you cannot have people of different genders having a drink and a paella together, which is what we did.”
And sources who were aware of the event insisted the girls were “not prostitutes”, reported El Pais.
In the midst of a scandal after audio leaked of Rubiales and former Barca player Gerard Piqué plotting to transfer the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia, the FA chief made outrageous claims.
Alleging the leaked audio files were part of a campaign to smear him, Rubiales claimed the leak was a “mafia act”.
Without specifying who he was referring to, he suggested: “I cannot guarantee one day they will put a bag of cocaine in the boot of my car.”
In late 2022, 15 players posted an open letter to the federation complaining about the behaviour of RFEF bosses, citing attitudes to their “emotional and physical wellbeing”.
Rubiales implied the players who complained were “blackmailing” the federation and said the women should “ask for forgiveness”.
While there are a multitude of past incidents – which Rubiales has fervently denied – more are surfacing as the spotlight has shifted on the footie figurehead.
Now in his latest scandal, Rubiales is facing a “sexual assault” probe and has refused to step down amid furore across Spain.
After the infamous kiss seen around the world went viral, Rubiales initially defended his actions and branded critics as “idiots”.
Rubiales did apologise later, saying: “I’ve no doubt made a mistake and I have to admit it”.
But he then insisted he had no intention of leaving his post.
That defiance, however, has only helped to deepen the outrage at his actions, as well as sparking wider criticism of his leadership.
The Lionesses and LaLiga clubs joined in the surge of protests, with the public and politicians also voicing their displeasure.
And the whole coaching team of Spain’s World Cup winners quit, except for manager Jorge Vilda.
FIFA have now provisionally suspended him for 90 days and launched proceedings – and are said to want him banned for a maximum term of 15 years, the Daily Mail claims.
Rubiales could end up facing charges of “sexual aggression” towards player Jenni Hermoso, as well as being asked to resign.
A preliminary probe has already been announced amid the ongoing fury and protests about the kiss seen around the world.
Read More on The Sun
Meanwhile, his mum locked herself in a church and began a hunger strike to protest the “inhumane witch-hunt” against her son.
His “celebrations” have been called inappropriateCredit: AFP
“Rubiales out of play” has been displayed at many protestsCredit: Rex
Jenni Hermoso said in a press conference that the kiss was unwantedCredit: AP
Protests have erupted in Spain over the allegationsCredit: Rex More

SPANISH labour minister Yolanda Diaz has blasted the actions of Luis Rubiales and the male colleagues who have defended him.Rubiales was applauded by some after he refused to stand down in the wake of his Women’s World Cup final kiss storm.
Labour minister Yolanda Diaz said ‘we’ve seen the worst of society’Credit: Sky News
Luis Rubiales has refused to resign after kissing Jenni HermosoCredit: BBC/UNPIXS
The Spanish FA chief, who has been suspended by Fifa, kissed captain Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation.
Diaz has now criticised what she saw during his speech in which he defended his action, as she spoke at an explosive news briefing on Monday.
She said “the worst of Spanish society” was on display as Rubiales was applauded by some of his male colleagues.
She said: “Male chauvinism is structural in this country.”
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
As for their treatment of Hermoso, she added: “Instead of protecting her they actually made her suffer.
“We have seen the worst of structural machismo in the behaviour of Mr Rubiales.”
Diaz praised the work of the Spanish government but admitted they should have acted sooner.
She told reporters: “The government is acting very positively but I think it’s deplorable that it was Fifa that brought in the sanction and not us.”
Most read in Football
Rubiales has been suspended by Fifa and could face a similar sanction from Uefa.
However, the Spanish FA have voluntarily pointed out they should be axed from Uefa if the government were to intervene.
Leaving the governing body would see the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid removed from this season’s Champions League.
Diaz later said Rubiales had acted with “sexual aggression” during his kiss with Hermoso.
As for the scenes at the ceremony in Australia, she continued: “Spanish society is profoundly feminist and avant-garde.
“It’s certainly very strange that the whole of Spain should be witnessing this particular scene.”
Rubiales’ kiss storm has also seen his mum go on hunger strike.
She has locked herself in a church amid the scandal, slamming the “inhumane witch-hunt” against her son and is refusing to eat.
Diaz slammed Rubiales and his colleaguesCredit: AFP
Diaz spoke to the press at a news briefing on MondayCredit: AFP More

LUIS RUBIALES’ elderly mum Angeles Bejar has locked herself in a church and gone on hunger strike over the “inhumane witch-hunt” against her football chief son.She has demanded World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso tell the “truth” about the kiss – which she has made clear was not consensual – that led to Rubiales’ provisional suspension by Fifa on Friday.
Luis Rubalies’ mum, pictured in the green dress, has gone on hunger strikeCredit: EPA
Rubalies is at the centre of a global stormCredit: Getty
Rubiales is under fire after kissing Jenni HermosoCredit: Getty
Hermoso says the kiss was not consensualCredit: Getty
The retired hairdresser is carrying out her protest at the Divina Pastora Church in the Andalucia coastal resort of Motril east of Malaga where the suspended Spanish FA president grew up.
She began her hunger strike this morning accompanied by a sister, 48, hours after her son travelled to Motril for a holiday.
Angeles, whose husband is a former mayor of Motril, says she will continue her radical action until father-of-three son Luis receives “justice” and Hermoso “tells the truth”.
The Spanish football boss has claimed the kiss after the end of the World Cup final between Spain and England in Sydney just over a week ago was “consensual” but the player insists she never consented to a kiss on the lips.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Left-wing Spanish politicians who branded it “sexual violence” when footage of the kiss first emerged are now being supported by mainstream commentators in condemning what happened.
The England Women’s football team and male players like Andres Iniesta have also criticised Rubiales, who was expected to resign on Friday before insisting he would fight attempts to oust him.
Luis’ mum has branded her son’s treatment a “inhumane and bloody witch-hunt.”
She told Spanish press: “They’re doing to my son something he doesn’t deserve.”
Most read in Football
Repeating the version of events outlined by her son in his public defence of his actions, she added: “There’s no sexual aggression because there was consent by both parties.
“My son is incapable of harming anyone. As a mother I ask everyone for their understanding as this is a situation that could affect anyone.”
The pensioner and her sister are understood to have entered the church after the priest left this morning.
It was not immediately clear if police would be called to try to resolve the situation.
FAMILY ‘SUFFERING’
Spanish TV presenter Patricia Pardo called the latest development in the Kissgate saga “surreal”.
Luis Rubiales’ cousin Vanesa Ruiz Bejar, speaking on behalf of her family, said outside the church: “The statement I’m about to make is extremely difficult.
“My name is Vanesa Ruiz Bejar and I’m Luis Rubiales’ cousin.
“There’s a campaign of harassment occurring that is very unfair.“Luis’ mum who is a very religious person has sought refuge in God and started a hunger strike.
“She doesn’t want to come out of the church. We are all suffering a lot because of what’s happened to Luis which doesn’t seem at all fair to us.
“He’s been condemned already without being tried. It’s not normal. We want to be left alone. The facts speak for them, there are videos, there are audio recordings.”
In a direct message to World Cup winner Hermoso, she added: “Jenni, say the truth.’
“Why has she changed her version three times? We have suffered a lot, we have had to leave our homes because of the harassment we’re suffering.
“We want to be left alone and see justice done and we want this woman to tell the truth. Jenni, ‘tell the truth!”
She went on to say Angeles Bejar, Luis’ mum, was in a very distressed state, adding: “She’s an elderly lady whose health is very delicate and she’s suffering a lot.
“She’s crying all time and is not able to sleep and is not eating.
“The person that spends five minutes with Luis knows he’s a really good person with a big heart. He’s a very noble person.”
Asked when Angeles’ hunger strike would continue to, she said referring to Jenni Hermoso: “Until that woman speaks and tells the truth. I’m not saying who’s the baddie and who’s the goodie here, but I just want Jenni to tell the truth.”
She insisted she had no idea where Luis was and whether he had been able to speak to his mum since she went on hunger strike.
Although it was initially reported Luis’ mum was with a sister, it was subsequently claimed she was with a sister-in-law.
Local reports said two priests were inside the church with the women. No-one from the parish could immediately be reached for comment.
POLICE INVOLVED
Police later turned up at the church in Motril where Luis Rubiales mum has started a hunger strike.
Officers arrived as a cousin of Angeles Bejar entered the church with a doctor, just before 2pm local time.
Uniformed officers from Spain’s National Police force stood outside the door to the Divina Pastora Church, which remained shut while the relative and medic were inside.
It was not immediately clear why the police had turned up, although there was no immediate suggestion they would seek to remove Luis Rubiales’ mum by force.
Read More on The Sun
Internet memes showing footage of a woman ordering a huge breakfast at a cafe before starting her hunger strike have already started appearing online in Spain.
Another, featuring photos of a blonde with a wafer-thin waist, says: “Rubiales’ mum leaving the church in a month’s time.” More