Iniesta: Rubiales is damaging Spain and Spanish football

 Iniesta: Rubiales is damaging Spain and Spanish football

Football legend Andres Iniesta, who scoredthe goal that gave Spanish football the first of its two World Cup stars (one male and one female), has harshly criticised Luis Rubiales in a lengthy message posted on his X account (formerly Twitter).

In the message, he accuses the former president of "clinging to his position" and of "damaging the image of our country and our football around the world".

Public pressure built against Rubiales after he kissed Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup celebrations in Australia but he has since refused to resign from the RFEF and is claiming that Hermoso lied about consent.

"After what has happened this week, I would like to express my sadness, as a person, as a father of three daughters, as a husband and as a footballer, at the events we are experiencing in our football and around the Spanish women's national team.

"I believe that we cannot tolerate actions such as those we have seen, which have tarnished such a great milestone as winning a World Cup. I can't imagine the feeling that all the players of the national team must be feeling right now, seeing how the great tournament they played and the fantastic football they taught us all is not being talked about. It's a shame that a beautiful story that so many players have built over so many years has been tarnished.

"Instead, we have had to put up with a president who has clung on to his position, who has not admitted that his behaviour has been unacceptable and who is damaging the image of our country and our football around the world."