Context for News:
Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by Fifa following his conduct at the women’s World Cup final in Sydney last weekend.
Rubiales has refused to resign from his post after kissing Jenni Hermoso – who has stressed she did not consent – on the lips, prompting Fifa to step in.
A Fifa statement said: “The chairman of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), in use of the powers granted by article 51 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC), has decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/3884922
Archived version
“Once accredited by the RFEF that the player Mrs. Jennifer Hermoso lied in the statements she made, through the FutPro Union, we have been aware of a new statement - now yes, of the player - where, in a text clearly prepared by third parties, to have the necessary elements for the suspension of the functions of the President of the Federation, we must state that Mrs. Jennifer Hermoso lies in all the statements she makes against the President, as we will have the opportunity to prove at the appropriate time.
That we have all the relevant reports and expert reports that prove what was stated by the President and that we are going to exercise the corresponding legal actions against all those people who are falsifying reality and committing very serious crimes.
It is extraordinarily incomprehensible that Mrs. Hermoso, despite describing the superficial kiss as “a mere anecdote without transcendence” in her statements before the FIFA welfare officer - immediately after the events -; or to declare before the media that “I can only say that it has been the moment, the effusion and the moment, that there is nothing beyond, and that it is going to stay in an anecdote and that’s it, that… people … if they want to give him hype they are going to give it to him and who doesn’t then not” ; and that also posted a video on social networks in which she points out that she had authorized that kiss as a sign of effusiveness with a “okay”; she now affirms in that elaborate statement that she considers the aforementioned anecdotes as an “abuse in which she did not give consent,” feeling “vulnerable and victim of an aggression, an impulsive and sexist act out of place and without any consent on my part.”
The serious contradictions in the initial account of what happened - which are evident in the integrity report - and the serious accusations made by Ms. Hermoso since she has been abducted by the FutPro Syndicate move us to ask ourselves what interests the surprising change in the initial version and qualification of the facts responds to.
The facts are what they are; and, no matter how many statements you want to take out to distort reality, it is impossible to change what happened. The beak was spoiled. Consent is given at the moment with the conditions of the moment. Then you can think that you have made a mistake, but you can’t change reality.”
Hermoso Statement can be read here:
"After achieving one of the most important objectives of my sports career and after a few days of reflection, I want to sincerely thank my teammates, fans, followers, media, and everyone who has made this dream come true; your work and unconditional support were a fundamental part of winning the World Cup.
"The situation shocked me given the celebrations that were taking place at the moment, and with the passage of time and after delving a little deeper into those initial feelings, I feel the need to report this incident because I believe that no person, in any work, sports, or social setting should be a victim of these types of non-consensual behaviors. I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part.
"I want to make it clear that at no time did the conversation to which Mr. Luis Rubiales refers to in his address take place, and, above all, was his kiss ever consensual. I want to reiterate as I did before that I did not like this incident.
"The situation shocked me given the celebrations that were taking place at the moment, and with the passage of time and after delving a little deeper into those initial feelings, I feel the need to report this incident because I believe that no person, in any work, sports, or social setting should be a victim of these types of non-consensual behaviors. I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part.
"Simply put, I was not respected.
"I was asked to make a joint statement to alleviate the pressure on the president, but at that moment all I had in mind was to enjoy the historic milestone achieved with my teammates. For this reason, I always conveyed to the RFEF and its various interlocutors, as well as to media and people I trust, that I would not make any individual or joint statements on this matter, as I understood that doing so would take even more prominence away from such a special moment for my teammates and me.
"Despite my decision, I must state that I have been under continuous pressure to make a statement that could justify Mr. Luis Rubiales’ actions. Not only that, but in different ways and through different people, the RFEF has pressured my surroundings (family, friends, teammates, etc.) to give a testimony that had little or nothing to do with my feelings.
"It is not up to me to evaluate communication and integrity practices, but I am sure that as the World Champion, we as a team do not deserve such a manipulative, hostile, and controlling culture. These types of incidents add to a long list of situations that the players have been denouncing in recent years.
"This incident, one in which I have been involved, is the final straw and what everyone has been able to witness on live television during the celebration also comes with attitudes like the one we saw this morning and have been part of our team’s daily life for years.
"For all these reasons, I want to reinforce the position I took from the beginning, considering that I do not have to support the person who has committed this action against my will, without respecting me, at a historic moment for me and for women’s sports in this country. Under no circumstances can it be my responsibility to bear the consequences of conveying something I do not believe in, which is why I have refused the pressures received.
"I have ZERO TOLERANCE for these behaviors.
"I want to conclude by making it very clear that while it is I who is expressing these words, it is all the players from Spain and around the world who have given me the strength to come out with this statement. In the face of such a display of disrespect and inability to recognize one’s own mistakes and take responsibility, I state here and now to everyone of my decision not to play for the National Team again while the current leaders remain.
“Thank you all for the messages of support and encouraging words received. I know I am not alone, and thanks to all of you, we will push forward more united than ever. I leave this matter in the hands of TMJ and FUTPRO, and the people I trust. They will continue working on the next necessary steps.”