22 May 2023

Institutional statement from Luis Rubiales in response to the events at Mestalla

The president of the RFEF has reinforced the organization's commitment to condemn any insult based on sexual orientation, skin color or creed.

The president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, appeared before the media at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas to publicly condemn and express his deep concern about what has happened in recent hours: "We have a problem of behavior, of education, of racism. As long as there is a single undesirable or a group of undesirables who insult for sexual condition, skin color or creed, we have a serious problem." "Vinicius Junior and any footballer, woman or man, who suffers an insult, any violent act, has my support and that of the entire RFEF because we are here to help and ask them to help us improve," he added.

🗣️ 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, presidente de la @RFEF: "Tenemos un grave problema". pic.twitter.com/D3EBTuLyAK
— RFEF (@rfef) May 22, 2023

Rubiales was clear in his message and stated that "the goal we have set ourselves is that as soon as possible Vinicius and the rest of footballers, women and men, who have suffered this at some point can say publicly that it is no longer a problem in Spain. Hopefully this day will come as soon as possible and for that we will work tirelessly".

🗣️ 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, presidente de la @RFEF: "El objetivo que nos hemos marcado es que lo antes posible quienes han sufrido esto en algún momento puedan decir que no es un problema en España".

➡️ "Vamos a trabajar de manera incansable". pic.twitter.com/rqOhskCNAr
— RFEF (@rfef) May 22, 2023

The president of the RFEF took advantage of his appearance to send a message to the President of the Brazilian Football Confederation, Ednaldo Rodrígues, whom he invited to visit the home of the Royal Spanish Football Federation to see, first hand, the work being done. In the same way, he has asked him "to ignore the irresponsible behavior of the president of La Liga".

🗣️ 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, presidente de la @RFEF: "Quiero lanzar un mensaje al presidente de la @CBF_Futebol; pocos países en el mundo habrá como España que admiren y respeten al fútbol brasileño".

➡️ "Estaría encantado de recibirle aquí". pic.twitter.com/1B9vY2r117
— RFEF (@rfef) May 22, 2023

🗣️ 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, presidente de la @RFEF: "Quiero pedirle que ignore, por favor, el comportamiento irresponsable del presidente de La Liga".

➡️ "Los directivos estamos para tratar de solucionar los problemas". pic.twitter.com/OJaf6gKfRD
— RFEF (@rfef) May 22, 2023

For the head of the governing body of Spanish football, this problem requires a "firm response from the Federation and all the agents, but they must let us apply it and so far this has not been the case".

🗣️ 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, presidente de la @RFEF: "La respuesta firme de la Federación debe existir pero nos deben dejar aplicarla".

➡️ "Me quiero despedir con la convicción de que juntos lo vamos a solucionar". pic.twitter.com/xCXj6Le5jK
— RFEF (@rfef) May 22, 2023

The president of the RFEF wanted to conclude his appearance before the media with the conviction that "together we are going to solve it".