This Friday, Luis Rubiales appeared before the media in what was expected to be his resignation as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The organization's top president has been in the eye of the hurricane since last Sunday, the day the Spanish Women's Soccer Team was proclaimed world champion, after kissing the player Jenni Hermoso in full celebration.
Despite the fact that the Federation leaked Rubiales' resignation to the press hours before, the RFEF president finally clung to his position to the surprise of all. After a controversial speech in which he has charged against a "false feminism" which he calls a "scourge", the reactions have not been long in coming. And not only in Spain: television channels from all over the world echoed the words of Luis Rubiales.
Just a few minutes after the ex-soccer player's public appearance, the BBC started one of its news bulletins reporting the last hour that he had arrived from Madrid. "Spanish soccer boss Rubiales refuses to resign after being kissed by him," read the superimposed banner on the screen. The chain has also sent a correspondent to the headquarters of the Federation, located in the town of Las Rozas, to report on what happened there.
France 24, the main French news channel, has also covered the news among the information dealt with throughout this Friday. The chain focused on Rubiales's public accusation of some Spanish politicians, such as acting second vice president Yolanda Díaz, as well as the reaction of the government representatives mentioned in her speech.
Other highly relevant television channels on the European continent, such as the British Sky News or the Italian RAI, also echoed the appearance of Luis Rubiales. But one of the most outstanding reactions has come from Latin America, thanks to the Argentine channel Todo Noticias.
There, two of its presenters have been really harsh with the words of the president of the RFEF, describing his speech as "unpresentable" for speaking "of a consent that is not seen." In addition, the newscaster has finished off forcefully. "We are in the presence of not only a misplaced person, because of what he did, but also a superb one," he assured live.
