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Spain men's team star quits international football in revolt over Luis Rubiales kiss
Spain star Borja Iglesias has vowed to quit the national team over Luis Rubiales's conduct.
Gloria Hunniford defends the Luis Rubiales World Cup kiss
Spain striker Borja Iglesias has vowed not to play for the national team until Luis Rubiales is punished. Spanish FA president Rubiales incredibly refused to resign over his kiss on Women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso after Sunday's final.
Rubiales has caused a furore in Spanish football by kissing the cheek of Hermoso during the tournament's trophy presentation. Hermoso had been key to Spain's 1-0 win over England last Sunday, despite her second-half penalty miss.
Video then emerged of him appearing to record his crotch in celebration in close proximity to the Queen of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter. Several figures across football have called for the 46-year-old to quit.
However, Betis' Iglesias has gone one further by insisting that he will not represent the men's national team until appropriate action has been taken against Rubiales. The 30-year-old, capped twice by La Roja in 2022 and 2023, says it is 'unfortunate' that the attention continues to be on Rubiales's behavior of him.
“I am sad and disappointed,” Iglesias tweeted. “As a footballer and as a person I don't feel represented by what happened today in the Ciudad del Futbol de Las Rozas. I find it unfortunate that they continue to press and focus on a colleague.
READ MORE: Rubiales repeatedly screams 'I will not resign' as press conference boils over [LATEST]
“Wearing the Spanish national team shirt is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my career. I don't know if at some point I will be an option again, but I have made the decision not to return to the national team until things change and this type of act does not go unpunished.
“For a fairer, more humane and decent football.”
Former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin echoed those thoughts on Thursday evening. He tweeted: "What is happening is truly shameful. From representing our country with that level of vulgarity, misrepresenting the victim's statements and, on top of that, having the audacity to blame her, going on to victimize her for having committed an abuse, are facts that no one would do.
"How can this go unpunished? Football is a social tool to make advancements and progress, machismo should have no place within this system. The narcissist never believes he has made a mistake, he is capable of lying, manipulating the truth and making the victim guilty in order to maintain his power above others."
Vestir la camiseta de la Selección Española es de lo más grande que me ha pasado en mi carrera. No sé si en algún momento volveré a ser una opción, pero he tomado la decisión de no volver a la Selección hasta que las cosas cambien y este tipo de actos no queden impunes.
— Borja Iglesias (@BorjaIglesias9) August 25, 2023
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In a chaotic press conference on Friday, Rubiales frequently insisted: “No, I will not resign!” He added: “Jenni was the one who lifted me up. I told her to 'forget about the penalty' and I said to her 'a little peck?' and she said 'OK'.
“It was a spontaneous kiss. Mutual, euphoric and consensual. That's the key. A consensual peck is enough to get me out of here? I will fight until the end.”
However, Hermoso herself responded to the media afterwards: “Er...no I did not like that.” She then released a statement along with her union Futpro calling for action to be taken against Rubiales.