Real Madrid and Barcelona Face Potential UEFA Champions League Exclusion Over Luis Rubiales' Kiss
The Spanish Football Federation today has urged the European governing body, UEFA, to consider exclusion proceedings. The cause is the Spanish government's intervention in a conflict over a "kiss" that has been ongoing since the World Cup final, when Luis Rubiales, President of the Spanish Football Federation, kissed Spanish star Jennifer Hermoso on the lips without her consent following Spain's victory over the English, reports the Daily Mail.
If this request is approved, it would mean all Spanish clubs, including world giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, would be excluded from UEFA competitions such as the Champions League (also affecting Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad), the Europa League (Villarreal and Real Betis), and the European Conference League (Osasuna).
The call came after comments from the head of the Spanish Football Federation, Andreu Camps, criticising the Spanish government for intervening in the scandal surrounding the President of Spanish Football, Rubiales, after he kissed Hermoso and then grabbed himself in the crotch in the royal box alongside Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old child, Infanta Sofia. Camps is considered to be Rubiales' right-hand man.
Supporters of Rubiales within the Spanish FA (RFEF) have mobilised to attack the country's government for calls to have Rubiales resign.
Earlier, Luis Rubiales' mother declared a hunger strike over the "inhumane hunt" for her son. "The inhumane, bloody hunt they've set up for my son is something he doesn't deserve," stated Bejar. She has sequestered herself in a church in the town of Motril, and told the EFE agency that her strike will continue "indefinitely, day and night."
Meanwhile, after their historic win against the English in Australia at the World Cup, Spain has climbed to the second spot in the FIFA rankings. Spain leapt four places after defeating England 1-0 in the World Cup final in Sydney, moving up from the sixth to the second position.
Currently, only Sweden, who occupies the third spot in the 2023 World Championship rankings, surpasses the Spanish national team in this global rating. The United States, who were first in the last updated ranking, have now dropped to the third place after Spain and Sweden.