ON IT GOES
While each passing day suggests there is less and less to admire about head Spanish football federation (RFEF) honcho Luis Rubiales, it would seem he does have some massive, clanging brass balls. Despite criticism and calls for his head having come from Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish women’s football league, Megan Rapinoe and assorted other high-profile politicians and national media figures, the 46-year-old appears to have gone full Trump and is desperately clinging to power after he unwittingly made the World Cup final celebrations all about him, proving in the process he is in no way fit for his office. And how!
Not content with planting an unsolicited and unwanted kiss on Jenni Hermoso’s lips during the medal presentation, Rubiales was also caught on camera aggressively grabbing the metallic orbs in question, all the better to make a lewd gesture while standing just a couple of dignitaries down from Queen Letizia of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter. Having initially dismissed all criticism of his wildly inappropriate behaviour as the ramblings of “idiots”, Rubiales eventually apologised via video – described by Sánchez as “insufficient”. Despite his pleas, Hermoso flatly and heroically refused to appear alongside him playing the equivalent of dutiful and forgiving wife to his just-been-caught-philandering MP.
During a week in which almost all coverage of Spain’s first Women’s World Cup triumph should have been celebratory, Rubiales has stolen most of the headlines. He now finds himself under increased pressure to do the decent thing and quit, but is instead casting an increasingly large shadow over what should be a much-deserved spell in the limelight for the players. Already the subject of an official complaint filed by his fellow blazer Miguel Ángel Galán to the Prosecutor’s Office in Madrid and the State Attorney General’s Office alleging his actions constituted sexual assault, Rubiales has also been accused of inappropriate behaviour by a former colleague. Tamara Ramos, general director of the Futbolistas ON players’ union, alleges that Rubiales made obscene comments to her when they worked together, including asking her about the colour of her underwear and making inappropriate (and desperately unfunny) jokes at her expense. Rubiales denies the accusations and his organisation issued an aggressive statement describing them as “very serious and false”. The RFEF said it was filing “the appropriate criminal actions against Ms Ramos”.
But with the scandal showing no sign of an end any time soon, Fifa has now opened disciplinary proceedings in relation to Rubiales’ conduct at the final, although given its track record it could well conclude that he deserves some sort of award for his services to feminism. “Fifa reiterates its unwavering commitment to respecting the integrity of all individuals and strongly condemns any behaviour to the contrary,” droned a statement that might have come across as sincere and well meaning if it had been drafted by almost any other organisation than the one led by Gianni “All the Women” Infantino. For now, Rubiales hangs in there but his position looks increasingly untenable.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Just when everybody thinks it couldn’t get any worse, it does. Bottom of the National League after a 10-point deduction and subject to an almost year-long (so far) registration embargo represents an embarrassing situation for our proud football club which will forever be a stain on the current owner’s legacy. Whilst we would of course rather not have to stomach a 10-point penalty and feel so sorry for the demoralising effect that it might have on [manager] Kevin Maher and his team, it is difficult to argue against it. The National League has been as lenient and helpful to [owner] Ron Martin and Southend United as it can be so far, but it has the integrity of a competition to uphold” – the Shrimpers Trust fan group responds to the latest missed deadline for their club to pay off a tax debt, prompting a points penalty and leaving them staring upwards from the foot of the fifth tier.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
The story around the allegedly unsociable working conditions of Shrewsbury Town’s mascot (yesterday’s Quote of the Day) goes a long way to explaining the dismayed look on the face of the lion in their old crest. He obviously knew something we didn’t. Obviously they’ve since changed their badge but I miss the old one, which I once heard described as looking like ‘the lion had arrived home to find his house on fire’” – Derek McGee.
Re: Anglo-Scottish rivalries (yesterday’s Football Daily). I find it astonishing that you have omitted Dunfermline Athletic from the list. The mighty Pars not only hammered Everton 2-1 in the 1962-63 Fairs Cup, but similarly dispatched West Brom 1-0 in the 1968-69 Cup Winners’ Cup” – Ken Beveridge.
Re: football earworms (Football Daily letters passim). Whenever I heard the name ‘Jorge Vilda’ during the World Cup, I felt the need to sing: ‘Can he fix it?’ Surely I am not alone in this?” – Tony Whybrow (and no others).
Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Derek McGee.
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