Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has spectacularly rebuffed calls for his resignation after he kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the celebrations of Spain’s Women’s World Cup triumph.
Hermoso called for sanctions against Rubiales after what she described as “unacceptable” behaviour and an investigation was launched following further allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace by former colleagues.
A press conference was called on Friday in which it was widely expected Rubiales would step down from his position, but the president instead embarked on a lengthy message vowing to continue and fight to clear his name.
He said: “The time has come to say something. I was wrong and it was not the time to make that gesture. Do you think it is serious enough for me to suffer through this hunt? Is it serious enough for me to leave?
“I am not going to resign. I am not going to resign. I am not going to resign. What have I done? I’m going to fight until the end.”
Rubiales went on to claim that the kiss with Hermoso was consensual and attacked what he described as “false feminism” for trying to persecute him.
“I want to explain this peck, not a kiss, a peck,” he continued. “The feeling behind that kiss was the same with which I would give my daughter a kiss. There was no dominance.
“It was spontaneous, mutual and consensual. It was consensual. I have a great relationship with all the players and we have had very affectionate moments. The moment Jenni appeared, she picked me up from the ground and when she put me down, we hugged and I told her, ‘Forget about the penalty, you have been fantastic at the World Cup’.
“She told me, ‘You are a star’, and I said, ‘A little peck?’ and it happened.
“I don’t understand the statements. They are not trying to seek justice. They are doing a social murder. For five years, they have been after me with everything: complaints, lawsuits and requests for disqualification.
“False feminism does not seek the truth. It seeks to cover itself with medals and think we are moving forward. They do not care about people. The sensationalism of false feminism, they have pushed a lot and the press is going to keep killing me, but the truth is the truth.
“They can continue with this campaign, but deep in my heart, I don’t care.”
