Luis Rubiales has run out of support practically. The clamor for him to stop fighting and resign is already unanimous, both among the political class and in the world of football. In just over three days, the suspended president has gone from receiving the almost unanimous applause of the Football Federation assembly convened on Friday to receiving the unanimous condemnation of the territorial presidents who cheered him on Friday and who yesterday asked him to present and the resignation. FIFA’s decision to suspend Rubiales from his position for three months has had a lot to do with this drastic change in position.
Right now Luis Rubiales is a kind of social pest who is only supported by a few hundred people who demonstrated yesterday in his defense in his town of Motril (Granada), where he is spending his vacations with his daughters.
The Federation, through its interim president, Pedro Rocha Junco, the president of the territorial Extremeña, called yesterday a meeting at the headquarters of the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas to the 19 presidents of the regional federations with the aim of marking a new roadmap, to see what was done with the coaches, Luis de la Fuente, of the men’s, and Jorge Vilda, of the women’s, and as far as possible to distance themselves from the ballast that right now means being associated with Luis Rubiales .
The meeting began at 4:00 p.m. and ended after 10:00 p.m., with a break to follow live the press conference offered by Víctor Francos, the president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), from Tarragona, who was supposed to report on whether or not the TAD initiated the file promoted by the CSD and thus launched the disqualification of Rubiales.
At the end of the meeting, the new Federation released a statement of various points, with a common denominator: ask Rubiales to leave and support Rocha as the new manager in this time of maximum turbulence to undertake a profound restructuring.
The statement verbatim says that “after the latest events and the unacceptable behaviors that have seriously damaged the image of Spanish football, the presidents request that Mr. Luis Rubiales immediately resign as president of the RFEF.”
Later on he continues: “We warmly congratulate the women’s soccer team for their victory in the World Cup. We value the meaning and legacy of success for Spanish sport. We express our admiration and gratitude to an unrepeatable group of players and we extend our congratulations to all those who have built, over the years with determination, the growth of women’s football”. At this point there is no mention of Jenni Hermoso.
The Federation promises a restructuring but without giving further details: “We will urge the corresponding bodies for a deep and imminent organic restructuring in strategic positions of the Federation to make way for a new stage.” In this sense, he neither confirms nor dismisses the selectors.
“In addition, -he continues- we have urged President Pedro Rocha to immediately withdraw the last communication on behalf of the Federation with FIFA and UEFA that we have known today.” This section refers to a letter sent on Friday by Andreu Camps, the general secretary, requesting protection from UEFA for Rubiales. UEFA did not want to answer.
The statement ensures that “the RFEF maintains its commitment to continue implementing its investment, as well as equality policies for the development of women’s football.” The players have expressed their desire not to return to the national team while Jorge Vilda and the same management team remain. of Rubiales.
And it ends with an endorsement for Rocha: “Finally, the Presidents’ Commission has given its unanimous support to Mr. Pedro Rocha so that he may lead a new stage where dialogue and reconciliation with all football institutions is the line to follow. We make ourselves available to the CSD to continue building together the candidacy for the 2030 World Cup”.
