LaLiga president Javier Tebas launches a blistering attack against under-fire Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales, labelling his actions a ‘global embarrassment’ and alleging that bullying, blackmail and spying are rife within the organisation
- Javier Tebas joined the chorus of voices demanding Luis Rubiales to resign
- The Spanish FA president refused to step down on Friday in a dramatic speech
- WATCH: It’s All Coming Up – Mail Sport’s preview show for the weekend’s football
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has launched a scathing rebuke of embattled Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales, accusing him of a range of ills including bullying, blackmail and spying.
Rubiales emphatically rejected calls to resign in an extraordinary emergency meeting of federation officials on Friday.
His position has come under threat after he had sparked outrage when he kissed Spanish player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth as she collected her medal following the 1-0 win over England in Sydney.
Writing ahead of Rubiales’ speech, Tebas ripped into his superior and alleged several counts of misconduct.
‘I must admit that it has been very difficult to explain what has been going on with Luis Rubiales over the years.’ He wrote on Twitter. ‘I have the feeling that many people, until now, did not understand what those of us in football’s governing bodies have to live with when dealing with him as president of the RFEF.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has rebuked Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales on a remarkable day for Spanish football
Spanish Football Federation chief Luis Rubiales defiantly refused to resign in his speech later
Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales refused to resign after his controversial on-the-mouth kiss of player Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s World Cup triumph
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‘The misogynistic gestures, the foul language, the proto-clerical disaster and the insults of this latest global embarrassment are not a surprise and had obvious antecedents that should have prevented a new victim (who should not be in the spotlight).
‘Insults, bullying, blackmail, threats, espionage and persecution, fraudulently using the federative bodies, we suffer and many of us have denounced them.’
He continued: ‘The list of women and men who have been wronged by Luis Rubiales over the years is too long and this must stop.’
Footage also emerged from the final that showed Rubiales grabbing his crotch while standing near Queen Letizia of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter Princess Infanta Sofia.
Unpopular team coach Jorge Vilda will have his contract extended, according to Rubiales
As a result, Rubiales had been expected to quit during Friday’s assembly, but in another stunning episode, he said would extend the contract of highly unpopular Spain women’s team coach Jorge Vilda by another four years, announcing he would pay him €500,000 (£428,000) a year.
On several occasions the 46-year-old suggested there had been an orchestrated plot to oust him from his position and drew comparisons to the controversy that engulfed Vilda and the Spanish team ahead of the tournament.
‘Rubiales is interested in lying and presenting me as a conspirator in order to hide and get out of his scandals and outrages.’ Tebas continued in his statement. ‘Nothing could be further from the truth.
‘Although the crude victimhood trick has worked too many times, this time to continue trying is simply ridiculous, it is impossible to attribute his misogynistic and despicable behaviour to any absurd plot when the reputational damage to the whole of Spanish football is already inevitable.
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