Barcelona Star Criticizes RFEF and Luis Rubiales’ Conduct as ‘Pathetic and Sad’

Suspended President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, has found himself under a barrage of criticism from various quarters over the past three weeks following his controversial decision to kiss Spain forward Jenni Hermoso without her consent. While few male footballers in Spain have publicly commented on the matter, Barcelona midfielder Oriol Romeu was candid in his assessment.

Rubiales is currently facing the possibility of a two-year suspension from the Spanish Government for his actions. However, this legal process has been temporarily halted as Hermoso has chosen to press charges against Rubiales, and the proceedings must be concluded before any verdict is reached.

Among the notable voices speaking out against Rubiales, Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias declared that he would no longer represent Spain until significant changes were made in response to this incident. His teammates, Aitor Rubial and Hector Bellerin, also strongly condemned Rubiales’ actions.

The Spain men’s national team issued a statement expressing their disapproval of Rubiales’ behavior, pledging their support for the women’s team. However, it’s worth noting that Hermoso’s name was conspicuously absent from the statement. Additionally, Dani Carvajal openly acknowledged that the statement was made in an effort to deflect questions on the matter, and he vowed not to pass judgment until a definitive sentence had been handed down.

In contrast to the measured responses of some of his peers, Oriol Romeu offered a more direct assessment of the situation. Speaking to Esport3, Romeu acknowledged that not many players had publicly commented on the matter, though he noted that most had shared their views when asked.

“Hopefully, Jenni and her colleagues feel valued, respected, and that the issues they are raising reach a satisfactory resolution. The behavior exhibited towards them is both pathetic and disheartening.”

Romeu also emphasized the importance of recognizing the women’s team’s achievements, particularly their World Cup victory, amid the ongoing controversy. He highlighted the considerable merit in becoming world champions and expressed hope that their accomplishments would receive the attention they deserve, beyond the headlines generated by this incident.