The tumultuous silence of the male professional football players was broken only hours before the meeting, when everything showed that Rubiales would resign. In fact, this was confessed by one of his close friends: Rafael del Amo, vice-president and president of the Navarre Football AssociationAfter the meeting, she resigned from her position on the National Women’s Football Committee.
Reactions were quicker when Rubiales’ decision to stay in office became known. The most obvious, both in his words and in his decision, was this: Borja IglesiasBetis’s forwardHe made two international appearances for the Spanish team. “I feel sad and disappointed. As a football player and as a person, I don’t think that what happened today at Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas represents me,” he said.
Bellerin: “Machismo has no place”
He said this after his last practice with the Betic team before the LaLiga game day, but reaffirmed: “It is unfortunate that they continue to put pressure and focus on their teammates.” Finally, he announced that he would not return to the national team if he had the opportunity: “Until things change and such acts go unpunished”. Both he and his teammate Héctor Bellerín are two determined football players who never hesitate to testify on social issues.
“What happened is really embarrassing. Representing our country in such a vulgar way, misrepresenting the victim’s statements, and most importantly having the courage to blame him, continuing to victimize himself for committing an abuse are facts that no one knows. Go unpunished. Football is a social tool for progress and advancement, machismo should have no place in this system.Here’s what Bellerin said:
Casillas: “We need to talk about the title”
The past and current players of the national team did not remain silent. David De Gea, who played for the Spanish team 45 times, said: “His ears were bleeding” after listening to Luis Rubiales’ macho speech and in a tone of self-approval, he sought the support of the audience who applauded him.
Iker Casillas did not ignore the situation, either, posting a message shortly after the debate in Sunday’s World Cup final, openly alluding to Luis Rubiales, asking if he had resigned before. Rubiales’ alternate for the RFEF chair for a short time in 2020 said this Friday: “We would have had to spend these five days talking about our girls! From the happiness they give us all! Bragging a title we don’t have in women’s football but… Woe to others”.