An internal investigation over the Luis Rubiales incident, has been launched by Spain’s football federation after its sexual violence protocol was activated.
Maria Dolores Martinez Madrona, the protocol’s protection delegate, said the matter is now being investigated.
“Our protocol is currently activated and in the midst of investigating the events, thus we demand the utmost respect for the right to privacy and dignity of all individuals involved,” she said in a letter published by the federation (RFEF).
“As the protection delegate for sexual violence, my duty is to adhere to the protocol and safeguard the privacy of those affected by this incident and of the Sexual Violence Advisory Committee.”
The protocol is activated once a complaint is submitted and means the protection delegate, a position currently held by female referee Madrona, will investigate and send her findings to the Sexual Violence Advisory Committee.
READ ALSO: Alexis Putellas, Borja Iglesias, Others Blast Luis Rubiales Over Refusal To Resign
The RFEF has also called regional federations to an “extraordinary and urgent” meeting on Monday “to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself”.
FIFA have already suspended Spain’s FA President Luis Rubiales, for 90 days pending the conclusion of their own investigation on Saturday.
Meanwhile Spain women’s head coach, Jorge Vilda’s entire coaching staff has resigned in support of Jenni Hermoso over the kissing scandal involving the country’s FA president.
A statement signed by 11 coaching and technical staff expressed its “strongest and most emphatic condemnation of the conduct shown by the president of the Spanish Football Federation”.
Earlier Spain’s Sport and Culture minister Miquel Iceta had explained his own delay in suspending Rubiales and admitted his permanent removal was in the hands of the Spanish courts.
Iceta said: “We would all like decisions to be taken as soon as possible, but there are procedures to be respected.
“The government cannot take a decision on its own. It needs an authorisation, and that comes from CAS (Court for Arbitration in Sport).”
Iceta was asked by El Pais if there was a possibility Rubiales could return to his job after CAS’ ruling.
READ ALSO: Spanish PM Criticizes Luis Rubiales For Kissing World Cup Winner Jenni Hermoso
He said: “Well if CAS considers that no serious or very serious action has taken place, because the government cannot say who presides over a federation.
“But at the end of last year, we passed a new sports law that reinforced the rights of women athletes. With the current legal framework, it is very difficult not to consider that there has been a very serious action that deserves a significant sanction.”
And asked if the end was coming for Rubiales as President, Iceta said: “As far as the government is concerned, yes, but there is a part of the procedure that does not fall within the government’s competence. There is a court that exercises its functions independently.”
Hermoso, the Spain player who Rubiales accused on Friday of initiating the kiss that he planted on her lips during the medals ceremony, has continued to receive support.
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Lola Gallardo also reacted to the scandal, saying: “I haven’t seen Rubiales give Sergio Ramos or Dani Carvajal a kiss on the mouth when they have won important titles.
“Maybe he was euphoric but about other things, not because we women are world champions. He was euphoric because (he feels) he’s had a difficult year, we are the 15 little girl blackmailers and he’s got the big balls and he and Jorge Vilda had won.”
Arsenal legend, Ian Wright hit out at UEFA’s silence on the Luis Rubiales controversy emanating from the FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
FIFA’s decisive intervention, UEFA, whose vice president is none other than Rubiales, is yet to comment on the issue and Wright has now vented his frustrations at the governing body.
“Still silence from UEFA,” Wright tweeted.
READ ALSO: World Cup Final: Luis Rubiales Responds Defiantly To Critics Amid Incident With Jennifer Hermoso
“No solidarity. No comment on the behaviour of their Vice President.
“Same UEFA whose President did not attend the Women’s World Cup Final where both teams represented the region.
“These are the same people in charge of leading the future of women’s football. They don’t give a s**t!”
Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta also spoke out against Luis Rubiales.
He said the president of the Spanish FA’s actions have tarnished the team’s win at the Women’s World Cup.
“After what has happened this week, I would like to convey my sadness, as a person, as the father of three daughters, as a husband and as a footballer, in the face of the events that we are experiencing in our football and around the Spanish women’s team,” he tweeted.
“I believe that we cannot tolerate performances like the ones we have seen, which have tarnished a milestone as big as winning a World Cup. I cannot imagine the feeling that all the players of the national team must have right now seeing how they are not talking about the great tournament they had and the fantastic football they taught us all.
“It’s a shame that a beautiful story that many players have built over so many years has become dirty. Instead, we have had to put up with a president who has held on to his position, who has not admitted that his behavior has been unacceptable and that it is damaging the image of our country and our football around the world.”