THE NEW head of the Spanish FA has made a public apology to the Lionesses for the disgraceful behaviour of suspended president Luis Rubiales.
Rubiales was hit with a Fifa ban after kissing Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips in the aftermath of their 1-0 World Cup final win over Sarina Wiegman’s team.
An unrepentant Rubiales has refused to quit in the wake of the backlash but was forced out of office when he was provisionally suspended by Fifa for 90 days.
His stand-in, Pedro Rocha, who is expected to sack women’s national team coach Jorge Vidal, has now offered the association’s “most sincere apologies” to the Lionesses, the Spain women’s team and the game’s authorities and fans.
In a statement, which came 24 hours after Spain’s men’s team issued a joint statement condemning Rubiales, Rocha slammed Rubiales’ “totally unacceptable behaviour”.
He added: “Those actions do not reflect at all the values of the whole Spanish society, its institutions, its representatives, its athletes and the leaders of Spanish sport.
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“Spanish society is an example of tolerance and civility, in all social and political spheres and has been an example of behaviour and sporting decorum, as it has demonstrated for decades in all sporting events in which it has participated.
“That nobility and international prestige of our society and our sport have been tarnished in recent days by the actions of Mr Luis Rubiales.
“The damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and to the values of football and sport as a whole has been enormous.”
Vidal, who has been at loggerheads with his squad for more than a year, is due to hear his fate soon, with Rocha determined to end his tenure and heal the wounds that have been further exposed by the Rubiales scandal.
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Rocha added: “The RFEF (Spanish FA) wants to convey to the whole of society and to the whole of world football its deepest regret for what has happened, which has tarnished our national team, our football and our society.
“We feel deeply sorry for the damage caused and therefore, we must ask for the most sincere apologies and acquire a firm and absolute commitment that facts like these can never happen again.
“Both the governing body of the world of football, FIFA, and the bodies responsible for sport in Spain have immediately adopted the appropriate measures, opening disciplinary proceedings against Mr Rubiales.
“In the case of FIFA's decision, that saw the immediate suspension of his functions as president of the RFEF.
“We are seeking a definitive resolution as soon as possible to repair the damage caused.
“Winning the World Cup was one of the proudest moments in the history of the Spanish Federation and one of the most important moments of Spanish sport and of women's football.
“The actions of Mr Rubiales both at that moment and in the following hours are not acceptable under any circumstances.”
Rocha said that the federation had “immediately” deleted all the “inappropriate and meaningless” statements made by Rubiales from its website after his departure.
He said: “To be clear, this position was that of Mr Rubiales, not that of the RFEF.
“We are particularly saddened and embarrassed by the additional hurt and distress this has caused.
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“His actions must be attributed solely and exclusively to him, since he is the only one responsible.
“We are sorry that this incident has disrupted what should have been an ongoing celebration of football – both for our national team and that of England’s Lionesses, who were a truly remarkable rival in a thrilling final.”
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