Fiery Controversy: Spanish FA Convenes 'Crucial and Expedited' Meeting on Women's World Cup Kiss Controversy

The Spanish football federation has scheduled an "extraordinary and urgent" meeting regarding the controversy surrounding the Women's World Cup kissing incident.

Despite being suspended by FIFA, Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish FA, has chosen to remain in his position and has rejected the possibility of stepping down. The suspension was imposed after Rubiales kissed women's team player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain's 1-0 victory over England last Sunday.

Instead of resigning as widely anticipated at a meeting on Friday, he delivered a defiant speech, asserting that he was being unfairly targeted by "false feminists." Jorge Vilda, the coach of Spain's women's team, labeled the ongoing turmoil as "utterly senseless," as it has overshadowed the deserving triumph of both the players and the nation.

The interim president of the Spanish federation, Pedro Rocha, has scheduled a meeting for Monday to assess the current situation of the federation and discuss the necessary decisions or actions. Following the activation of the federation's sexual violence protocol, an internal investigation has been initiated.

Maria Dolores Martinez Madrona, the delegate responsible for protecting the protocol, emphasized the importance of respecting the privacy and dignity of all individuals involved in the investigation, according to a statement.

In the meantime, three major commercial partners of the federation – Iberia, Cervezas Victoria, and Iberdrola – have expressed disapproval of Rubiales' actions and distanced themselves from him.

Iberia, Spain's national airline, expressed in a statement their support for the necessary actions to uphold the rights and dignity of athletes in response to offensive situations that do not align with a developed, modern, and egalitarian society like Spain.

Hermoso firmly stated that she did not give her consent to the kiss at any point.

At the Women's Cup final between Atletico Madrid and AC Milan on Saturday, Jennifer Hermoso made an appearance among the spectators and received applause from the crowd. The players at the match displayed a banner that read: "We stand with you, Jennifer Hermoso."

Spain boss Vilda condemns Rubiales behaviour

The fallout from the incident persisted into the afternoon of Saturday, resulting in the resignation en masse of Spain women's coaching staff—with the exception of head coach Vilda.

However, the World Cup-winning boss of Spain has now spoken out about the events, condemning suspended Rubiales and labeling the kiss as "inappropriate and unacceptable".

In a statement to Spanish publication Marca, Vilda expressed his disappointment regarding the recent developments following Spain's historic victory in the Women's World Cup. He emphasized that the inappropriate actions of former president Luis Rubiales have hindered the well-deserved triumph of the Spanish players and the nation.

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"It is undeniable that this behavior is completely unacceptable and goes against the principles and values that I uphold in my personal life, as well as in the realm of sports, especially in football.

The atmosphere created is evidently undesirable, and it deviates significantly from what should have been a joyous celebration of Spanish sports and women's sports."

As the coach and director of the women's national team, my focus has always been on achieving athletic triumph as well as fostering initiatives that encourage inclusivity, respect, and fairness. I emphasize my steadfast dedication to promoting a sport that serves as a shining example of equality and respect in our society.

Spain assistant managers Montse Tome, Javier Lerga, and Eugenio Gonzalo Martin have chosen to step down from their roles. Additionally, physiotherapist Blanca Romero Moraleda, goalkeeper coach Carlos Sanchez, and several others at various age-group levels have also resigned.

According to the coaches, the president of the Spanish Football Federation has been heavily criticized for his actions. They strongly condemn his conduct and disagree with the narrative he presented. Jenni Hermoso, on the other hand, has openly expressed that she felt like a victim of aggression.

The technical team endorses Jennifer Hermoso's stance and supports her.

In response to the unacceptable behavior and remarks made by the leader of the RFEF, we, the undersigned, have decided to resign from our positions.

Rubiales refusing to resign

Despite the RFEF's announcement of their intention to take legal action against Hermoso's comments, Rubiales has firmly refused to resign from his position. Adding to the severity of the situation, FIFA, who had already initiated disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales, issued a statement on Saturday morning. The statement declared a ban on the 46-year-old official, prohibiting his involvement in any football-related activities at both national and international levels for an initial period of 90 days.

Jorge Ivan Palacio, chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee, has directed Rubiales and the RFEF to cease any form of communication or attempts to reach Hermoso, whether directly or through intermediaries. Hermoso has leveled allegations against the RFEF, claiming a manipulative, hostile, and controlling environment, with 81 players supporting this stance by declaring their refusal to accept national team call-ups as long as Rubiales remains in his position.

Despite being in close proximity to Spain's Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter in the stadium VIP area, Rubiales defiantly celebrated by grabbing his crotch. While he later apologized for his behavior, he declared in his speech on Friday that he had been the victim of a "social assassination" and firmly stated, "I will not resign." These words were met with applause from the delegates gathered at the RFEF's extraordinary general assembly.

Rubiales argued that the event was "spontaneous, mutual, euphoric, and consensual." However, Hermoso, who had previously dismissed the federation's claims that downplayed her involvement in the incident, retaliated by criticizing the organization as a whole.

In a statement on Twitter on Friday, she expressed, "While it is not my place to judge communication and integrity practices, I firmly believe that as the world champion national team, we should not be subjected to such a deceitful, hostile, and authoritarian culture."

I aim to strengthen my initial stance, as I do not feel obligated to support the individual who has committed this act without my consent, disregarding me, at a significant moment for both myself and women's sports.

According to a statement released by Futpro, the players' union that represents her, Hermoso asserted that she had no intention of endorsing or assisting the president.

The RFEF announced on Saturday that they have analyzed four images of Hermoso and Rubiales embracing. They claim that the images show that it was Hermoso who lifted Rubiales with force. In a statement, the RFEF stated that they will be taking legal action to defend the president's honorability.

The union's statement claims to represent Jennifer Hermoso and includes quotes attributed to her, suggesting that she said them.

The RFEF would like to inform the public that its relevant departments, responsible for handling the complaints lodged with the Federation, have made multiple unsuccessful attempts to reach Jennifer Hermoso.

The RFEF and the President will expose the falsehoods propagated by either the player or someone acting on their behalf.

The RFEF and the President, considering the gravity of the statements made in the press release by the Futpro Union, will take necessary legal measures.