The acting President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, received the Spanish women's soccer team, World Cup champions in Australia and New Zealand, this Tuesday morning at La Moncloa. The soccer players were accompanied by the coaching staff and also by the president of the RFEF, Luis Rubiales.
The greeting between the two was cold. Discreet. The handshake lasted only a moment. Rubiales brushed the president's back looking for more interaction but got no response. He got the message. Sánchez is not satisfied with his attitude. The stolen kiss from Jennifer Hermoso has tarnished the success of the soccer players. Later, during Sánchez's speech and the protocol photographs, Rubiales, the highest representative of Spanish football, remained serious in a discreet background. The opposite of what is usual for him.
Although a picture is worth a thousand words, Sánchez's words were even more forceful. It was at a press conference after meeting with the King in the framework of the round of consultations for the investiture when Sánchez described the "behavior" of the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation as "unacceptable" and urged him to "continue taking steps " beyond his apologies, which he has considered to be "insufficient".
In the opinion of the acting President of the Government, Rubiales' behavior "does not connect with the sentiment of the majority of citizens" and is "one more example" that more work must be done for unity between men and women in Spain.
Despite his criticism of the macho behavior of the RFEF leader, he has pointed out that this sports organization "does not belong to the structure of the Spanish government" but that Rubiales "is chosen and dismissed by his associates."
Beyond his reunion with Rubiales, the president wanted to focus on the success of the Spanish team. "Spain is proud of you," he said. "I want to thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of Spain, for what you have done, how you have done it and how you have made us enjoy".
The acting President of the Government, who received a shirt signed by the internationals, stressed that they have the "eternal gratitude of society" which has "enjoyed and vibrated" with the team for how it has done in the World Cup and "above all with the heart" they put into winning "great teams, great teams", "particularly the English team in that extraordinary final".
"In 2010 we said, we are world champions, now, in 2023, we say with great pride, we are world champions," Sánchez continued, adding that "this is a success that logically belongs to you as a generation, without a doubt, but that It also pays tribute to other generations of players and also to the technical team that have preceded you and that have worked in a very anonymous way" and that now "see themselves reflected" in this success.
She considered that the world title "will not be the culmination of a process, but rather the beginning of many good things that are going to happen for women's football and women's sport" and predicted that both areas have "a bright future in front".
"What you have obviously achieved is formidable, being world champions, but also something very important is that the girls who are watching you see football as a place where they can develop both sportingly and personally, you are a reference. That for an athlete It is a tremendous pride and honor", continued Sánchez, who insisted that the Spanish Government and the administrations will continue to bet on women's sport.
"What we are going to do from the Spanish Government and from all the administrations is to bet on women's sport and women's football. We have done it with European funds, with a new Sports Law where we incorporate equality as one of the transversal principles of what sport should be in the 21st century, and also with financial resources. I know that there is still a lot to do but we are on the path that you demand and demand from your representatives", he pointed out.
He also announced that the Council of Ministers to be held today will approve the granting to the players of the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit awarded by the Higher Sports Council (CSD) and the plaque of gold for the whole of the selection.
And after acknowledging that he is not a soccer expert, he told the players that "you have really shown that you are virtuous people with the ball and when it comes to playing soccer, and that is something that distinguishes you from a sporting and social point of view ".
Ivana Andrés, defender of Real Madrid and first captain of the team in the World Cup, indicated in her brief address that they came to the event to "show a cup of great effort, much sacrifice" that culminates "the dream since we were little of the entire team, of all those who make up this piece of selection". She thanked the Government and the Federation for her commitment "for women and sport" and dedicated the title "to all Spaniards. We are world champions."
