Spanish soccer president refuses to quit; Australia’s Matildas slip in FIFA world rankings

Barcelona: Facing his possible removal from office, the president of the Spanish soccer federation has refused to resign despite an uproar for kissing a player on the lips without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final.

On Friday (Spain time), Luis Rubiales defiantly told an emergency general assembly of the federation “I won’t resign” four times in quick succession and claimed he was a victim of a witch hunt by “false feminists”.

Spanish soccer boss Luis Rubiales caused an uproar after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup victory celebrations.Credit: Reuters

Several Spanish media outlets had reported the day before that Rubiales was planning to step down after grabbing and kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the award ceremony after Spain beat England in the final in Sydney marring the title celebrations in front of a global audience.

Instead, he said the kiss was “mutual and with the consent” of Hermoso and painted himself as a victim. He received various applause from the overwhelming male assembly.

Among those who applauded his decision to cling to power were women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda and men’s national team coach Luis de la Fuente.

Hermoso had said in a video streamed on social media after the kiss last Sunday that “I didn’t like it, but what can I do?” Later, her players’ union issued a statement on her behalf saying that it would defend her interests and ensure that the act “does not go unpunished”.

The federation’s first attempt to respond to the scandal was a statement it released in the name of Hermoso in which she downplayed the incident. Later, a local media report by sports website Relevo.com said that the federation had coerced her into making the statement. The federation has denied this to The Associated Press.

In the version that Rubiales told the assembly, he said Hermoso had lifted him up in celebration and he asked her for “a little kiss?” and she said yes.

“The kiss was the same I could give one of my daughters,” Rubiales said.

He said that he would defend his honour in court against politicians, including two ministers, who called his kiss an act of sexual violence.

Acting Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz, one of the minister Rubiales said he would sue, responded to his speech on X, the social media formerly known as Twitter.

“What we have seen today in the federation assembly is unacceptable. The government must act and take urgent measures: impunity for macho actions is over. Rubiales cannot continue in office,” Díaz said.

The president of Spain’s women’s league, Beatriz Álvarez, told Spanish state broadcaster RTVE that she was not surprised because Rubiales’ “ego is above his dignity”.

“What surprises and scandalises me are his words,” Álvarez said. “Every time he speaks he shows what kind of person he really is.”

The 46-year-old Rubiales is under immense pressure to leave his post because of his conduct after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on Sunday.

Since Rubiales became a national embarrassment, criticism and calls for him to go have mounted day after day, with Spain’s acting prime minister, players’ unions, and finally voices from inside men’s soccer saying he must go. The only relevant institution to remain silent has been European soccer body UEFA, for which Rubiales is a vice president. Until Friday’s assembly, he had received no public support in Spain.
AP

Matildas take a tumble in world rankings

They may have captured the hearts of a nation but the Matildas have dropped a place in FIFA’s latest rankings following the Women’s World Cup.

A magnificent late-tournament surge, record television ratings and unprecedented media interest counted for nothing on the world governing body’s updated standings as the Matildas slipped out of the world’s top-10 for the first time in 2023.

After starting the World Cup ranked 10th - and despite reaching the semi-final stage of the global showpiece for the first time - Sam Kerr and company now find themselves at 11th.

Matildas star Sam Kerr.Credit: Getty Images

A country’s ranking is calculated using a variety of criteria, including results, venue, the importance of the match and the difference in world ranking between the competing teams.

A group-stage loss to Nigeria contributed heavily to the Matildas ranking demotion while a semi-final defeat to England and a third-place play-off loss to Sweden were also factors.

For their part, Spain may have lifted the trophy after last weekend’s 1-0 final win over England, but they are not - officially at least - the best team in the world.

That honour goes to the Matildas’ third-place play-off conquerors Sweden, who replace the United States at the top of the rankings list - the first time in more than six years the US have not occupied pole position.

Germany are the only other team ever to have been formally ranked world No.1 by FIFA in the women’s game.

The US, who had held the No.1 spot since June 2017 and won back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019, slip out of the top-two for the first time since the rankings were introduced in 2003.

Spain climb from sixth to second, pushing the US to third, while runners-up England and quarter-finalists France remain fourth and fifth respectively.

Japan (eighth) have returned to the top 10 following a run to the quarter-finals while tournament co-hosts New Zealand remain 26th after their group-stage exit.

World Cup debutants Morocco were the biggest movers, jumping 14 places to 58th.

AAP and Reuters

Why you still can’t get a Mackenzie Arnold ’keeper kit

Nike has agreed to sell a limited number of goalkeeper shirts for England, Netherlands, the USA and France but Australian Mackenzie Arnold’s jersey will still not be available to buy.

The newly released replica goalkeeper jerseys, including Lionesses’ Mary Earps, who won the Golden Glove award at the Women’s World Cup, will be sold through the federation websites over the coming days.

Other federation partners are in talks to sell limited numbers of goalkeeper kits, including Australia’s, but issues remain around the government-mandated crest.

Nike are working with Football Australia on a solution to sell Mackenzie Arnold’s goalkeeper kit. Credit: Getty Images

The Australian crests on the athlete kits are different from the consumer shirts and Nike does not have permission to sell the crest of Arnold’s shirt, despite fans being able to buy the tops of other players, such as Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler.

The situation in Australia means that the Commonwealth Coat of Arms on the jerseys worn by the athletes cannot be made available for retail.

Football Australia confirmed it was in discussions with Nike to find a solution for future availability “where we have both indicated we would like to see goalkeeper kits of our senior national teams available for retail purchase to enable even more fans to show support for their favourite team member”.

A spokesperson for the global sports brand said it saw unprecedented passion and interest in women’s football this year and remains committed to playing its part in accompanying that.

“We recognise that during the tournament we didn’t serve those fans who wished to show their passion and support to the squad’s goalkeepers. We are committed to retailing women’s goalkeeping jerseys for major tournaments in the future,” Nike said.

Nike was on the receiving end of a public outcry after the decision not to make goalkeeper shirts available to the public during the month-long tournament.

Earps blasted the apparel sponsor of both the Australian and English teams pre-tournament and asked for the kits to be available for fans.

Earps said last month that it was “hugely disappointing and very hurtful” that Nike was hawking outfielder jerseys but offered nothing for those who idolise goalkeepers or aspire to be one themselves. She said she even offered to pay for the production of the shirts herself.

“It is the young kids I am most concerned about. They are going to say, ‘Mum, Dad, can I have a Mary Earps shirt?’ and they say, ‘I can’t, but I can get you an Alessia Russo 23 or a Rachel Daly 9’,” she said.

“What you are saying is that goalkeeping isn’t important, but you can be a striker if you want.”

Mary Earps took aim at Nike before the tournament started for not selling her World Cup jersey.Credit: Reuters

Nike has regularly sold goalkeeper jerseys for the men’s teams it sponsors, and the absence of Arnold’s and Earps’ shirts continued to gain attention and became a talking point after each had standout performances in penalty shootouts.

More than 150,000 people signed an online petition calling for Nike to sell Earps’ jerseys, with some British politicians joining those demands.

Earps’ club, Manchester United, said that her No.27 shirt was its second best-selling women’s replica shirt so far this season, behind Lionesses teammate Ella Toone.

With Reuters

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