‘It’s OVER!’ Sevilla stars support Spain star Jennifer Hermoso as they call for FA chief Luis Rubiales to resign in pre-match protest over ‘kiss-gate’ scandal
- Sevilla players showed support for Hermoso and joined calls for Rubiales’ exit
- FIFA have suspended the embattled Spanish FA chief for a minimum of 90 days
- Spain’s women’s football squad announced they will not play for their side
Sevilla players made a show of support to Jenni Hermoso and Spain’s top female footballers by wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the phrase ‘it’s over’ ahead of their LaLiga defeat to Girona on Saturday.
The fallout from Spanish president Luis Rubiales’ forcible kiss and subsequent unwillingness to step down has reached breaking point in recent days with resignations and boycotts en masse across the federation.
All 23 members of Spain’s victorious World Cup squad signed a statement refusing to play until the 46-year-old was sacked, following his stunning refusal to quit during an emergency assembly on Friday.
Hermoso, who was kissed on the lips by Rubiales as she collected her winners medal last Sunday, reiterated her stance that the act had not been consensual in the statement.
‘I want to clarify, that at no time did I consent to the kiss,’ She said. ‘I don’t tolerate that my word is questioned, much less that words are invented that I haven’t said.’
Sevilla players warmed up in the t-shirts that featured the phrase ‘It’s over’ in a show of support for Hermoso
Jenni Hermoso released a lengthy statement on social media in response to Rubiales’ claims, which she concluded with the hashtag SeAcabo
Rubiales, president of the Spanish FA, kissed Hermoso on the mouth after the World Cup final
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The damming situation continued to intensify on Saturday as all 11 members of Jorge Vilda’s coaching staff walked out and condemned Rubiales’ conduct.
That transpired after FIFA had hit the beleaguered chief with a 90 day suspension from all football-related activity which instructs him to ‘refrain, through himself or third parties, from contacting or attempting to contact’ Hermoso.
Yet still, Rubiales has remained steadfast in his belief that his actions do not warrant dismissal and has stayed in his post.
As a result, during the warm-up and pre-match handshakes, Sevilla lent their voice to the avalanche of critics calling for his ousting by donning jersey sporting the words ‘#SeAcabo’.
Sevilla’s demonstration, which featured the hashtag which had been used by Hermoso in her statements on Friday, was witnessed by La Roja’s World Cup final goalscoring hero Olga Carmona, who was in the presidential box at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side were joined by Cadiz players who came out for their 1-1 draw against Almeria with a banner reading ‘We are all Jenni’.
The Lionesses also rallied around Spain’s women’s football team on Saturday, declaring that they ‘stand with’ them and refused to play for their country until the president of their federation is removed from his job.
‘Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation.’ The statement from the beaten finalist read. ‘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 take any convincing to take action against any form of harassment.
‘We stand with you, Jenni Hermoso.’
Several members of the Spanish women’s football team have said that they will not play any more matches for their country until president Luis Rubiales has been removed from his role
Under-fire Rubiales faces a probe from the Spanish government, who have started legal proceedings. Victor Francos, head of the government’s National Sports Council, said the government sees this as the ‘MeToo of Spanish football,’ the reports.
Francos said: ‘What Mr Rubiales has done is aggravate the situation. The government will not be impassive.’
He continued: ‘The government begins today the procedures so that Mr Rubiales has to give explanations before the Administrative Court of Sport [TAD] and, if the TAD is willing, we will suspend Mr Rubiales in his functions.’
It is expected a court hearing will take place on Monday.
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