UEFA slammed for their silence on Luis Rubiales scandal
UEFA slammed by Ian Wright, Ada Hegerberg and Casey Stoney for their SILENCE on £214k-a-year vice-president Luis Rubiales after FIFA suspended him over ‘kiss-gate’ scandal
- Shamed Rubiales refused to resign as Spanish FA president over kiss storm
- He has been suspended by FIFA, who launched disciplinary proceedings
- Rubiales is a UEFA vice-president but Europe’s governing body remains silent
Ian Wright, Ada Hegerberg and Casey Stoney have ramped up the pressure on UEFA with European football’s governing body remaining silent on the Luis Rubiales scandal.
The shamed president of the Spanish Football Federation was provisionally suspended by FIFA over the weekend after he refused to resign for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s Women’s World Cup win.
Rubiales, whose future will be discussed at another emergency meeting of the Spanish FA on Monday, serves as a UEFA vice-president and earns around £214,000 a year for that role.
He could serve on UEFA’s executive committee through until 2027.
The Spanish football chief also serves as chairman of UEFA’s Club Licensing Committee and is deputy chairman of their Marketing Advisory Committee.
UEFA has remained silent on vice-president Luis Rubiales despite his suspension by FIFA and immense pressure to step down from his Spanish FA role following the ‘kiss-gate’ scandal
The Spanish Football Federation president Rubiales refused to resign amid outrage after he kissed Spain player Jenni Hermoso
Rubiales sparked more outrage after footage emerged of him grabbing his crotch while celebrating Spain’s win in the vicinity of Spanish Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin didn’t attend the World Cup final between Spain and England in Sydney and there has been no official comment from the body so far.
But Thierry Favre, who is UEFA’s deputy director of national associations, did attend the Rubiales press conference on Friday.
That led to criticism over the weekend from former England and Arsenal striker Wright, who responded to news of FIFA’s suspension of Rubiales by tweeting: ‘Good. But still silence from UEFA. No comment on the behaviour of their Vice President.
‘Same UEFA whose president did not attend the Women’s World Cup final where both teams represented the region.
‘These are the same people in charge of leading the future of women’s football. They don’t give a s***!’
Prominent Norwegian footballer Ada Hegerberg said: ‘This is the @UEFA Vice-President, re-elected in the executive committee earlier this year, dropping that horrendous speech.
‘If you don’t see the issue, you are part of it. My thoughts with the players who should be celebrating, and with the ones who decided to stay home. Enough.’
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin (right) did not attend the Spain vs England final in Sydney
Former England striker Ian Wright was critical of UEFA for their lack of comment on Rubiales
Norwegian star Ada Hegerberg was also critical of Rubiales as she supported Spain’s players
Lionesses legend Casey Stoney also criticised a lack of reaction from UEFA over the scandal
Lionesses legend Stoney tweeted: ‘MISSING: Has anyone seen or heard from @UEFA? The players and our sport deserve better. Do the right thing!!
‘You have a unique opportunity to stand up and show the world your values. WHAT ARE THEY?’
Mail Sport has asked UEFA for comment.
In a stunning press conference on Friday, Rubiales refused to stand down as head of the Spanish FA as he lashed out at ‘false feminism’ for a ‘social murder’ of his reputation.
Rubiales sparked outrage after he kissed Hermoso on the mouth as she stepped up to receive her medal following Spain’s 1-0 win.
Footage also emerged that showed Rubiales grabbing his crotch while standing near Queen Letizia of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter Princess Infanta Sofia – behaviour he apologised for.
Rubiales described the reaction to his behaviour as a ‘social murder’ and blamed ‘false feminism’
Rubiales also carried Spanish player Athenea del Castillo Beivide during the celebrations
Rubiales embraces Spanish player Aitana Bonmati during the presentation ceremony
Rubiales hugs Alba Redondo amid Spain’s celebrations after winning the Women’s World Cup
Hermoso has been threatened with legal action by the Spanish football federation after she said she didn’t consent to the kiss and disputed Rubiales’ version of events.
Rubiales claimed that Hermoso ‘lifted me up’ during the celebrations and agreed to ‘a little kiss’. ‘The kiss was the same I could give one of my daughters,’ Rubiales added.
He was provisionally suspended by FIFA ‘from all football-related activities at national and international level’ with disciplinary proceedings opened against the 46-year-old.
81 Spanish players – including all 23 who went to the Women’s World Cup – have announced they will not represent their country until Rubiales is removed from his position.
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