The coaching crew of the Spanish women’s national team has all resigned in the face of the scandal surrounding Luis Rubiales.
Rubiales, the President of the Spanish FA, kissed Jenni Hermoso during the side’s World Cup celebrations. He has subsequently been banned by FIFA, with the tournament-winning coaching team all deciding to walk out. Head coach Jorge Vilda remains in situ, however.
A statement announcing their resignation, which was signed by members of the coaching crew, which include Javier Lerga, Eugenio Gonzalo, Blanca Romero, Carlos Sanchez, Ruben Jimenez, Sonia Bermudez, Javier Velazquez, Javier Egido, Ander Ruiz, Elena Fernandez, and Montse Tome, was made public on Saturday.
The statement reads, “As a result of the events that occurred after the final of the Women’s Soccer World Cup, part of the Women’s Soccer Team wants to make its position public.
“The undersigned express their firmest and most emphatic condemnation of the conduct shown by the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Manuel Rubiales Béjar, with the player of the National Women’s Soccer Team, Jennifer Hermoso.
“After the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which took place on August 25, 2023, in which the president of the RFEF did not present his resignation and in which he offered a story that does not reflect in any way any of the feelings of the aforementioned player, who has expressly stated that she felt “victim of aggression”, this part of the Technical Staff supports the player Jennifer Hermoso, endorsing the version offered by her.
“Adding the inconvenience of having to necessarily attend the aforementioned assembly on August 25, in which, in addition, there was a particularly hurtful event for this coaching staff, since several of the female members of the coaching staff were forced to wear in the front row, exposing their image and trying to make society and players understand
“For all these reasons, the undersigned, in light of the unacceptable attitudes and statements made by the top leader of the RFEF, have made the decision to place their positions at the disposal of the RFEF.
“This part of the Technical Team shows its support for the statement published by the players of the Women’s National Soccer Team, in reference to said actions and statements made by the president of the RFEF, and more specifically to the public statements made by the player Jenni Hermoso.
“The undersigned want to end this statement by accepting the part of responsibility that falls to us regarding the restructuring and professionalization of the Women’s Team, a task for which we have always worked with the greatest motivation and professionalism.”
FIFA, in a statement released on Saturday, ordered the suspension of Rubiales from all football-related activities. The Spanish women’s side has also confirmed that they will not represent the county while Rubiales remains in his position.
