After federation head Luis Rubiales declined to retire following his unwanted kiss on the lips of a Women’s World Cup star, Spanish striker Borja Iglesias left the men’s national squad on Friday.
The Real Betis striker, who has twice represented his nation, most recently in March, spoke out against the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)’s refusal to resign.
By seizing Hermoso by the head and kissing her on the lips at the medal ceremony after Spain defeated England 1-0 to win the final in Sydney on Sunday, Rubiales, 46, incited international fury.
Iglesias stated on social media platform X, now known as Twitter, “I do not feel represented by what happened as a player and as a person.”
“One of the nicest things that has ever occurred to me in my career is wearing the Spain shirt.
“I don’t know whether I’ll be available again in a second, but I’ve decided not to join the national team again until things improve and this kind of behaviour is met with consequences.
He continued by saying that he was acting “for a more just, human, and decent football.”
As he refused to back down on Friday, Rubiales spoke vehemently against “false feminism” and claimed he was the victim of a public “assassination” in an angry and defiant address at a football federation emergency meeting.
According to the head of the federation, their kiss was “mutual, euphoric, and consensual.”
