Uefa has dismissed a self-sabotage attempt by Spain’s Football Association (RFEF) to have all its teams suspended from continental competition over the Women’s World Cup kiss saga.
The federation wrote to the governing body to claim government attempts to get Luis Rubiales suspended were in breach of rules on outside interference.
However, the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona’s Champions League spots are safe, with Uefa chiefs understood to have rejected the complaint.
Andreu Camps, RFEF secretary general, had written his letter on Friday immediately after his nation’s ministers moved to suspend Rubiales via the courts.
Spain’s government earlier launched action against the federation president after he shouted three times “I will not resign” at a meeting to discuss his unsolicited kiss on Jenni Hermoso.
An international outrage has ensued in the week since he grabbed the player and pulled her to his lips during the final medal presentation at the end of Spain’s 1-0 World Cup final victory over England on Sunday. He also clutched his crotch in celebration while standing alongside the Queen of Spain.
On Monday, the Spanish Prosecutor’s Office initiated proceedings against Rubiales for possible sexual assault on Hermoso, whom he kissed on the lips in celebration of their final victory over England two weeks’ ago.
Hermoso has been given 15 days by the National Court Prosecutor’s Office to contact them as an alleged victim of sexual assault, which could result in criminal proceedings being brought against the RFEF president.
However, beleaguered Rubiales told an emergency meeting on Friday: “A consensual ‘peck’ is enough to get me out of here? I will fight until the end.”
The federation believed it had grounds to get Uefa to intervene because statutes say the body will not recognise a national association if it is not being independently run. One result of such a decision is for all clubs playing under that association to be removed from European competition, meaning Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Real Sociedad and Sevilla would lose their Champions League places, Villarreal and Real Betis dumped from the Europa League and Osasuna from the Conference league – as well as the Spanish women’s teams including defending European champions Barcelona.
However, Telegraph Sport understands there is no appetite within European football’s governing body to intervene in the extraordinary saga, with Fifa having already suspended Rubiales.
“As these events fall under the disciplinary jurisdiction of Fifa, it was agreed that the Fifa disciplinary bodies would handle the case,” a source said.
The RFEF’s decision to effectively invite authorities to deprive its clubs of European football was prompted by Rubiales’ fury at criticism from politicians over the prior five days. Before ministers announced moves to suspend him, Irene Montero, the minister of equality for Spain, attacked Rubiales’ actions as “sexual violence”.
Rubiales hit back by saying criticism of him “is a social murder, they are trying to kill me”. “As a Spaniard, we have to reflect on where we are going,” he added. “False feminism does not seek justice, it does not seek the truth, it does not care about people.”
But with Spain’s women players announcing a boycott and a host of high profile men’s players criticising his antics, the letter will also be perceived as a shot across the bows within the domestic game.
As well as contending with government attacks in recent days, the federation has faced furious attacks from the likes of Luis Enrique and Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga.
The intensifying crisis has led to fears in Spain the country’s bid to co-host the 2030 men’s World Cup finals, which Rubiales was due to help lead, could be in jeopardy.
Rubiales remains under massive pressure to resign amid widespread condemnation. On Monday, his mother Angeles Bejar locked herself in to a church and went on hunger strike in protest over what she describes as an “inhuman witch-hunt” against her son.
All 11 of the Spanish women’s team entire coaching staff, bar Jorge Vilda, resigned on Saturday citing the behaviour of Rubiales. However, under the apparent orders of Rubiales, the Spanish federation said it would take “necessary legal action” against the 79 women players refusing to play while he remains in post. The Spanish football federation is at odds with the team, international sporting authorities and its own government, which was moving to suspend Rubiales via the courts prior to Fifa’s suspension.
The suspension, which is for an initial 90 days, is pending the proceedings opened against Rubiales that began on Thursday.
