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☆ Barcelona under investigation for suspected bribery in refereeing case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Police also searched the offices of the football federation RFEF in Madrid on Thursday, the Barcelona court said, as part of the ongoing inquiry into "possible systemic corruption" within the Spanish refereeing committee. Spanish football and the RFEF in particular are going through a moment of reckoning amid allegations of sexual abuse against former RFEF chief Luis Rubiales. The refereeing investigation has now been widened to include Barcelona as a suspect. Barcelona has denied any wrongdoing, saying in a statement in February it had paid an external consultant who supplied it with "technical reports related to professional refereeing", which it said was a common practice among professional football clubs. According to judge Aguirre, Negreira was responsible for ranking and evaluating the referees.

Persons: Albert Gea, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Joaquin Aguirre Lopez, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, Aguirre, Negreira, Fernando Kallas, Andrei Khalip Organizations: Football, FC Barcelona, Rights, Barcelona, Reuters, Thursday, Police, RFEF, Real Madrid, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Rights MADRID, Spanish, Madrid, Sydney, RFEF

CNN —FC Barcelona and several of the soccer club’s current and former executives are officially being investigated as suspects for “the sustained crime of active bribery,” according to a court document obtained by CNN – the latest twist in an alleged improper payment scandal overshadowing Spanish soccer. The investigation relates to alleged improper payments made by Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former leading refereeing official in Spain. The spokesperson declined to share more details about the search but said that no arrests are expected to be made. He added that in his opinion the payments “produced the desired effects on referees,” resulting in “consequent systemic corruption in … Spanish refereeing” affecting soccer in the country. CNN has reached out to Negreira via his company for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Persons: “, –, Javier Soriano, invoiced, Negreira, ” Judge Joaquín Aguirre López, Aguirre López, ”, Barça, Caso, Xavi, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Javier Tebas, Los Blancos, CNN’s Matt Foster Organizations: CNN — FC Barcelona, CNN, Spain’s Civil Guard, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Guardia Civil, An FC Barcelona, Caso, Spanish, AFP, Getty, Prosecutors, CTA, 1st, La Liga, Barcelona, Osasuna, Civil Guard, Real, Real Madrid, UEFA Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Guardia, Spanish, Real Madrid

GOTHENBURG, Sweden (AP) — Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s team got back to being soccer players on Friday. That achievement ultimately was tarnished by a sexism scandal sparked by the former Spanish soccer federation president, Luis Rubiales, kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup awards ceremony. The final whistle blew immediately after the resulting restart and Spain's players celebrated wildly. Putellas was captain for the game in a Spain team containing seven starters from the World Cup final against England. Meanwhile, three national team players have been summoned as witnesses by the judge investigating Rubiales for the kiss.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Mariona Caldentey, Athenea del Castillo, Spain's, Magdalena Eriksson, Del, Zećira, Eva Navarro, Lina Hurtig, Amanda Ilestedt, “, Montse Tomé, –, Hermoso’s, Alexia Putellas, Putellas, Hermoso, Rubiales, Miguel García Caba, Andreu Camps, ___ Organizations: Sweden, Gothenburg —, Nations League, ”, England, Switzerland Locations: GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Gothenburg, Australia, Spanish, Spain, Tomé

☆ Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes speak out on ‘systemic discrimination’ in Spanish soccer ahead of first match since Women’s World Cup win
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Ahead of the Spanish national soccer team’s first match since winning the Women’s World Cup last month and the fallout from ex-soccer boss Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss on La Roja player Jennifer Hermoso, star players Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes spoke out on “systemic discrimination” within the country’s federation. Earlier this week, a dispute between the Spanish women’s soccer team and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) appeared to have reached a breakthrough after the two parties, along with the government’s High Council of Sport (CSD), came to a series of agreements. Having previously refused to represent the national team, 21 of the 23 players selected in the squad for the upcoming matches agreed to play and traveled to Sweden. Paredes celebrates with her Women's World Cup winners' medal after Spain's victory against England. Rubiales himself testified on September 15 and, according to Spanish prosecutors, denied all charges.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, La, Jennifer Hermoso, Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, d’Or, Putellas, “, ”, Paredes, Marc Atkins, Jorge Vilda, Montse Tomé, Tomé, ” Tomé, hasn’t, ” RFEF, General Andreu Camps, Rubiales, Mapi León, Patricia Guijarro, Francisco de Jorge Organizations: CNN, Spanish, soccer team’s, Reuters, soccer, Royal Spanish Football Federation, government’s, of Sport, England, UEFA Women’s Nations League, RFEF, men’s, Spanish National Football Team, Barcelona Locations: Sweden, Barcelona, Spain, Gothenburg

☆ Exclusive: Senior Spanish soccer officials to leave or be fired after uproar over World Cup kiss-source
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Pablo Garcia, a spokesman for the RFEF, did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. Spanish soccer has been in turmoil since Luis Rubiales, then the RFEF chief, kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup presentation ceremony on Aug. 20. His actions outraged players, government officials and many in wider Spanish society and raised questions over sexism in sport. The RFEF said the word "female" would be removed from the women's national team's official brand to harmonise it with the men's squad. From now on, both will be known as "Spanish national football team".

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Bruna Casas, Pablo Garcia, Rafael Del Amo, Victor Francos, RFEF, Pedro Rocha, Aislinn Laing, Jon Boyle Organizations: Royal Spanish Football Federation, REUTERS, Bruna, Rights, Reuters, Spanish National Sports Council, Nation's League, Sweden, team's, Spanish national football team, Madrid, Thomson Locations: Sant, Barcelona, Spain, Rights MADRID, Valencia, Sweden, Gothenburg

☆ Outcry in Spain as artificial intelligence used to create fake naked images of underage girls
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Police in Spain have launched an investigation after images of young girls, altered with artificial intelligence to remove their clothing, were sent around a town in the south of the country. A group of mothers from Almendralejo, in the Extremadura region, reported that their daughters had received images of themselves in which they appeared to be naked. One of the mothers, Miriam Al Adib, used a video published on her verified Instagram account to raise awareness about the situation. On Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the high court of justice in Extremadura told CNN that a police investigation is ongoing. According to the outlet, the images were made using an app which uses artificial intelligence to produce images of people without any clothes on.

Persons: Miriam Al Adib, Al Adib, ” Francisco Mendoza, ”, Pilar Porrón, Fátima Gomez, María Ramírez, María Guardiola, Guardiola, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Hermoso Organizations: CNN — Police, CNN, “ Locations: Spain, Almendralejo, Extremadura, Spanish, Madrid

☆ Spanish women’s players agree to end national team boycott after striking deal with federation and Spain government
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( George Ramsay | Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Earlier this week, 20 players named to the national team squad reiterated their refusal to play in two upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures, including against Sweden on Friday. A Mixed Commission featuring representatives for the players, RFEF and CSD will also be created to implement further changes in the future. How we got hereWednesday’s announcement is the latest development in a long-running saga between the Spanish women’s team players, who won a first Women’s World Cup title last month, and RFEF. Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas runs with the ball against Japan at the Women's World Cup. Marty Melville/AFP/Getty ImagesOf the 15 players who signed the letters, only three were in Spain’s World Cup squad: Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle.

Persons: Víctor Francos, Mapi León, Patricia Guijarro, ” Francos, ”, …, we’ve, ” Amanda Gutiérrez, FUTPRO, Montse Tomé, Jorge Vilda, Rafael del Amo, Tomé, del Amo, “, ” Tomé, León, it’s, “ We’ve, Guijarro, you’re, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Alexia Putellas, Marty Melville, Mariona, Aitana, Ona Batlle, RFEF Organizations: CNN, Spanish, soccer, Royal Spanish Football Federation, government’s, of Sport, UEFA Women’s Nations League, Sweden, Barcelona, women’s, RFEF, Guijarro, World, Spanish women’s, Japan, England, Federation Locations: Sweden, Switzerland, Spanish, Sydney, AFP, Australia, New Zealand, women’s soccer

Meanwhile, failed uprisings in Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia were followed by years-long crackdowns and a continuing civil war in Syria. “What we’re beginning to see in Saudi Arabia right now is the emergence of a new social contract. Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest exporter of crude oil, and nearly two-thirds of its income still comes from selling fossil fuels. If Saudi Arabia can become a hub for major sporting events, then that’s a way of attracting interest to the country,” said Maguire. In response to previous criticism about Saudi Arabia’s purported “sportswashing,” the kingdom’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said: “People that don’t know Saudi Arabia, have never been to Saudi Arabia, go out and talk about it as if they’ve lived there for 30 years, 40 years.

Persons: Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, Germain, Neymar Jr, Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Patricia de Melo Moreira, it’s, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman –, Leon Neal, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Al Hilal, spender, –, Carlo Nohra, Jordan Henderson, Henderson, “, ’ ” Simon Chadwick, “ We’ve, ” Chadwick, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Nassr, Stringer, you’re, Kieran Maguire, they’re, Everybody’s, ” Maguire, Chadwick, Ronaldo, Maguire, … Mohammed bin Salman, ” James Dorsey, ”, Chadwick –, Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al, Faisal, don’t, they’ve, LIV Golf, Jimmy Dunne, LIV, Dunne, Aleksander Ceferin, Erling, Haaland, Jurgen Klopp, Michael Emenalo, Steven Gerrard, Nohra, ” “ They’ve Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, PSG, Saudi Pro League, Ligue, Liga, Serie, Bundesliga, English Premier League, Deloitte, Investment Fund, AFP, Getty, SPL, Saudi Crown, Spanish, Arsenal, CNN Sport, English, Newcastle United, Liverpool, The Athletic, SKEMA Business School, Argentina, Zamalek, King Fahd Sports City, Anadolu Agency, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Football, AFC Asian, FIFA, Greece, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish Super, ”, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Middle East Soccer, Saudi Ministry, Sport, PGA Tour, European, UEFA, Premier League, Ettifaq Media, Reuters New Saudi Pro League, Major League Soccer, La Liga, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Russian Direct Investment Fund, Investigations, PGA Locations: Saudi Arabian, Brazil, Saudi, Ittihad, Al, Ahli, Real Madrid, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Liverpool, China, Qatar, Taif, Egypt, Spanish, East, North Africa, Libya, Yemen, Tunisia, Bahrain, Syria, “, ”, Europe, ” Liverpool

MADRID (AP) — Most of Spain's World Cup-winning players ended their boycott of the women's national team early Wednesday after the government intervened to help shape an agreement that was expected to lead to immediate structural changes at the country's soccer federation. Specific details of the changes agreed upon were not revealed following the hours-long meetings involving the government’s top sports official, players, Tomé and federation officials. Francos said that the names of the two players who decided to leave would be later revealed by the federation. On Monday, Tomé picked nearly half of the 39 players who said they would not play for the national team until their demands were met, including 15 World Cup-winning players. Not responding to a call-up by a national team can expose a player to fines or even being banned from playing for their clubs.

Persons: Montse Tomé, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Víctor, ”, Pedro Rocha, Rubiales ’, Francos, “, ” Francos, Tomé, Jorge Vilda, Hermoso, ” Tomé, Rubiales, Vilda, ___ Organizations: MADRID, women's, Players, Sports, Higher Council for Sports, Nations League, Sweden Locations: Spanish, Australia, Spain, Switzerland

MADRID (AP) — Some of Spain's World Cup-winning players started reporting to training camp on Tuesday despite not wanting to be called up for the national team while fighting for changes in the soccer federation. It was the latest embarrassing chapter in Spanish soccer in a crisis ignited by former federation president Luis Rubiales kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women's World Cup last month. Tomé left Hermoso off the list “as a way to protect her,” she said. On Monday, the federation released a statement in which it publicly reiterated to the players its commitment to structural changes. Tomé, an assistant to Vilda at the World Cup, included in her first list some of the players who rebelled.

Persons: Montse Tomé, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Hermoso, Tomé, ”, ” Hermoso, “, ” Tomé, Spain’s, Miquel Iceta, ” Iceta, —, Pedro Rocha, Jorge Vilda, Vilda, ___ Organizations: MADRID, Local, Spain, FIFA, Nations League, Sweden Locations: Madrid, Spanish, Spain, Switzerland, Valencia, Sweden

☆ Hermoso says Spain squad announcement shows 'nothing has changed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO:Soccer Football - Liga MX Femenil - Monterrey v Pachuca - Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico - September 15, 2023 Pachuca's Jenni Hermoso after the match. After most of Spain's World Cup winning squad were selected for upcoming games earlier on Monday, the players said they would continue their boycott, which came after Luis Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation ceremony in Australia. Victor Francos, the head of Spain's government national sports agency, told SER radio station if the players did not show up "the government must apply the law". "It is yet more irrefutable proof that shows that even today, nothing has changed." Montse Tome, who has replaced Jorge Vilda as coach of the national team, suggested Hermoso was left out of the squad because of the intense media attention she had received in the past month.

Persons: Jenni Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, Hermoso, Victor Francos, Tome, Jorge Vilda, Jenni, Angelica Medina, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Football, Pachuca, Estadio BBVA, Spain's, Spanish, SER, Thomson Locations: Monterrey, Mexico, Spanish, Australia, Mexico City

MADRID (AP) — The new coach of Spain’s women’s team included 15 of the World Cup-winning players in her squad on Monday even though they have not publicly announced an end to their boycott of the national team. Spain coach Montse Tomé said she talked to Hermoso and decided not to include her as a way to protect her. “I'm believe this was the best way to protect her.”The new coach, who was an assistant at the Women's World Cup to former coach Jorge Vilda, did not say whether it was Hermoso who asked not to be called up. They called for deep reforms and new leadership after Rubiales refused to resign for kissing Hermoso at the World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney. Tomé said she talked to the World Cup-winning players that she selected and expected them to report to training camp on Tuesday.

Persons: Spain’s, Jenni Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, Montse Tomé, Hermoso, Rubiales, Jenni, ” Tomé, “, Jorge Vilda, Ballon, Alexia Putellas, Tomé, Vilda, It's, Pedro Rocha, Rocha, ___ Organizations: MADRID, Spanish national, Nations League, Sweden Locations: Spain, Spanish, Sydney, Switzerland

“We wish to end this statement expressing that the players of the Spanish women’s national team are professional players, and what most fills us with pride is putting on the shirt of the national team and always taking our country to the highest places. World players’ union FIFPRO posted on X in support of the players’ decision saying, “FIFPRO fully supports the Spain Women’s National Team in their united call for change. The identical letters said that “the situation” within the Spanish national team – about which RFEF was “aware” – had been affecting the players’ “emotional state” and health. Of the 15 players who signed the letters, only three were in Spain’s World Cup squad: Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle. Despite their youth and relative inexperience, the Spanish players produced an impressive performance Down Under.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, RFEF, d’Or Féminin, Alexia Putellas, “, FIFPRO, Pau Gasol, –, Hermoso, Pedro Rocha, Jorge Vilda, Montse Tomé, Rocha, Víctor, Tomé, Thomas Coex, ” –, Mariona, Aitana, Ona Batlle, Amanda Perobelli, Spain’s Organizations: CNN, Women’s Nations League, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish women’s, “, Spain Women’s National Team, High Council of Sport, Sweden, Getty, Spanish, Reuters, Vilda Locations: Spanish, Spain, “, RFEF, Switzerland, Madrid, AFP, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Sweden, women’s

CNN —Carla Vall, lawyer for Spanish soccer star Jennifer Hermoso, reiterated that the kiss by ex-Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales to her client after the Women’s World Cup final was non-consensual. That’s what we’ll show,” Vall said after leaving the National Court in the capital of Madrid. “it’s just the beginning of the investigation at court,” Vall added. Earlier this week, the National Court announced it had admitted a complaint made against Rubiales by Spanish prosecutors for sexual assault and coercion. Interim RFEF president Pedro Rocha then began to make moves as part of his “regeneration” of the federation, firing controversial coach Jorge Vilda and appointing his deputy, Montse Tomé.

Persons: Carla Vall, Jennifer Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, ” Vall, “ it’s, Olga Tubau, Irina R Hipolito, Shutterstock, Hermoso, “, Pedro Rocha, Jorge Vilda, Montse Tomé, Rocha, Víctor Organizations: CNN, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish, National Court, Rubiales, Interim, High Council of Sport Locations: Spanish, Madrid, RFEF

☆ Luis Rubiales: what to expect as court case begins over Jenni Hermoso kiss
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Emma Pinedo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hermoso says that she did not want to be kissed and that she felt "vulnerable and victim of an aggression". After weeks of resisting calls to step down as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rubiales finally quit on Sept. 10. He maintains the Hermoso kiss was "spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual". SPANISH CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGSRubiales appeared before a High Court judge on Friday over a complaint of sexual assault and coercion stemming from the allegedly unsolicited kiss. Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for three months from all football-related activities by world soccer governing body FIFA since Aug. 26.

Persons: Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Kim Hong, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso's, Hermoso, Rubiales, Marta Durantez Gil, Francisco de Jorge, TAD, Queen Letizia, Sofia, Emma Pinedo, Rohith Nair, Andrei Khalip, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA World, Qatar, Khalifa, Royal Spanish Football Federation, REUTERS, Rights, FIFA, Administrative, Sports Council, Spain's women's, Thomson Locations: Japan, Spain, Doha, Qatar, Rights MADRID, Spanish, Hermoso, Bangalore

MADRID (AP) — Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish soccer federation, denied any wrongdoing when questioned by a judge investigating his kissing a player on the lips last month at the Women’s World Cup, Spain's state prosecutors' office said Friday. He said she had consented to the kiss, but Hermoso has denied that repeatedly. Spanish state prosecutors formally accused Rubiales last week of sexual assault and an act of coercion. According to Hermoso, Rubiales pressured her to speak out in his defense immediately after the scandal erupted. The state prosecutors’ office said Rubiales denied both accusations when answering questions by the judge in an hour-long hearing that was closed to the public.

Persons: — Luis Rubiales, Judge Francisco de Jorge, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Hermoso, Olga Tubau, Carla Vall i Duran, ” Vall, Duran, De Jorge, ___ Wilson, ___ Organizations: MADRID, Spain’s, Spain, England, National Court, Rubiales, FIFA Locations: Spanish, Spain, Sydney, Australia, Barcelona

☆ Players in Spain’s Women’s League Call Off Strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Rachel Chaundler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Players in Spain’s women’s soccer league have called off a strike that delayed the opening of the season after reaching an agreement with the league over minimum salaries, a rare moment of harmony in what has been an acrimonious period in Spanish soccer. The agreement, confirmed early Thursday, would raise the minimum salary for players in the league to 21,000 euros, or about $22,500, from 16,000 euros this season, a significant increase but still far short of what their male counterparts make. The minimum is scheduled to rise to €23,500 for the 2025-2026 season, with the potential for an even higher benchmark “if enough profits are obtained from commercial assets,” such as sponsorship, according to a statement from the unions representing the players. Spanish soccer is in the midst of a turbulent moment, touched off by an unwanted kiss by Luis Rubiales, the nation’s top soccer official at the time, on Jennifer Hermoso, one of the national team’s top players. The episode occurred last month after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney, Australia.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso Organizations: England Locations: Spain’s, Sydney, Australia

☆ Spain's ex-soccer boss Rubiales due in court in sex assault investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Emma Pinedo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It also sent a shudder through the male-dominated ranks of Spain's football establishment. Rubiales, 46, has maintained that the kiss was mutual and consensual. After weeks of resisting calls for him to step down as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rubiales, already suspended by FIFA, finally quit on Sept. 10. The RFEF has since sacked women's team coach Jorge Vilda, appointing his assistant Montse Tome instead as the first woman at its helm. Reporting by Emma Pinedo, editing by Andrei Khalip and Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Piers Morgan, Yolanda Diaz, chauvinsim, Marta Durantez Gil, Hermoso, Rubiales, Francisco de Jorge, De Jorge, Jorge Vilda, Montse Tome, Striker Olga Carmona, Emma Pinedo, Andrei Khalip, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Royal Spanish Football Federation, FIFA, High, Rubiales, TVE, government's, women's, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Spanish, Sydney, British

MADRID (AP) — The players in Spain’s women’s soccer league have called off a strike after reaching a deal to increase minimum wage, the league and unions said Thursday. The first set of games was not played last weekend because of the strike, but the second block of matches will now go ahead as scheduled. The minimum salary for the women’s league until now was 16,000 euros ($17,100), compared to 182,000 euros ($195,000) for the men's league. The new deal will increase the minimum wage for the women's league to 21,000 euros ($22,500) this season, with that sum rising to 23,500 euros ($25,200) by 2025. Last season, of 334 players, 80 players made less than 20,000 euros ($21,400) per year, while the average salary was about 40,000 euros ($42,900), according to the league.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, ___ Organizations: MADRID Locations: Spanish

☆ Man arrested after allegedly touching Spanish journalist’s bottom live on air
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The man can be seen approaching her and then appearing to touch her bottom as she’s talking to presenter Nacho Abad in the studio. Balado tried to continue with her piece to camera, but Abad asked her if the man had just touched her bottom. “Do you really need to touch my bum?” she asked, before telling him that she’s live on television. “It’s very unpleasant, particularly when you are working,” she said, before the camera panned to show the man standing on the street with another man. “Only yes means yes.”The man was later arrested and Spain’s national police posted a video on X of him being led away in cuffs.

Persons: Isa Balado, Nacho Abad, Balado, Abad, “, ”, Yolanda Díaz, ” Díaz, Irene Montero, Madrid, Balado’s, Verónica, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Hermoso Organizations: CNN — Police, “, Balado, Madrid magistrate’s, CNN, High, Justice, Espana Locations: Spain, Madrid, Cuatro, “, Spanish

☆ Three Real Madrid youth players arrested over sexual video with minor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Spanish police arrested on Thursday three Real Madrid youth players for allegedly distributing a sexual video featuring a minor, with the arrests heightening the furore about sexism and macho behaviour in Spanish soccer. The case stems from a complaint filed by the mother of a 16-year-old girl in the Canary Islands regarding an alleged recording of sexual relations, police said. Police said the three had been detained at the Real Madrid sports complex in Madrid and a fourth player was being investigated. One of those arrested is a reserve team player and two play for the third team. Real Madrid issued a statement saying only that a total of four youth team players had been questioned by police "in connection with a complaint about an alleged release of a private video via WhatsApp" messaging system.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Spain's, Jenni Hermoso, Rubiales, El, Elena Rodriguez, Fernando Kallas, Joan Faus, David Latona, Andrei Khalip, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Spanish, Real Madrid, Police, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Madrid

☆ LaLiga announces partnership with Llanfairpwll, a small Welsh team with a very, very big name
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Jude Bellingham, Robert Lewandowski, Luka Modrić – those are just some of the big names currently playing in LaLiga. Or, more accurately, the longest name: Welsh team Clwb Pêl Droed Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Football Club. “This really is an outstanding partnership for us,” Samantha Jones-Smith, the club’s chairwoman, said as part of a LaLiga press release. Silvia Kusidlo/picture-alliance/dpa/APAccording to the press release, the jersey will debut on Saturday as Llanfairpwll, currently playing in the fifth tier of Welsh soccer, faces Holyhead Town. Llanfairpwll, which next year celebrates its 125th anniversary, isn’t the only Welsh team to achieve international distinction.

Persons: CNN — Jude Bellingham, Robert Lewandowski, Luka Modrić, ” Samantha Jones, Smith, “, Silvia Kusidlo, “ We’ve, ”, Gwydaf Hughes, LaLiga, It’s, Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney Organizations: CNN, Spanish soccer, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Football Club, Llanfairpwll FC, LaLiga, Welsh, Holyhead Town, Wrexham, League Locations: LaLiga, North Wales, Holyhead, Anglesey, Europe

☆ Olga Carmona: Spain star ‘angry’ that Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss tarnished Women’s World Cup victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Olga Carmona, the Spanish soccer star who scored the winning goal in the Women’s World Cup final, said it made her “angry” that Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss on teammate Jennifer Hermoso overshadowed the team’s historic victory. “Yes, it does make me angry and I think that hopefully from now they’ll talk about how we are world champions.”Spain's players celebrate defeating England to win the Women's World Cup. Catherine Ivill/Getty ImagesWhen asked if she had spoken with Hermoso, Carmona confirmed she had not. TF-Images/DeFodi Images/Getty ImagesThe Spanish women’s national team is scheduled to play Sweden away on September 22 in the Women’s Nations League. The board for women’s soccer was meeting for the first time since being created earlier this year.

Persons: CNN — Olga Carmona, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Carmona, Hermoso, ” Carmona, “, ”, Catherine Ivill, Jorge Vilda, –, Montse Tomé, there’s, ” Luis Rubiales, Rubiales ’, d’Or Féminin, Alexia Putellas Organizations: CNN, England, Real Madrid, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish women’s, Sweden, Women’s Nations, UEFA, National Court Locations: Spanish, “

☆ Former Spanish soccer chief Rubiales to testify in court in Hermoso kiss case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The incident, at the medal ceremony following the Spanish women's team's World Cup victory in Sydney, Australia, last month, unleashed a wave of indignation against sexism and macho behaviour in Spain. Rubiales had refused demands from many players, sports bodies and politicians to quit his position as president of the Royal Spanish Football, saying he had done nothing wrong and the kiss was mutual and consensual. However, the furore did not die down and on Sunday he resigned after Hermoso lodged a criminal complaint against him. The complaint by Hermoso describes how Rubiales kissed her on the mouth "without her consent" while holding her head with both hands after Spain defeated England in the women's World Cup final on Aug. 20. High Court judge Francisco de Jorge is in charge of the probe as the incident took place outside Spain.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Juan Medina, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Rubiales, Hermoso, Francisco de Jorge, Emma Pinedo, David Latona, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Spain's, Moncloa, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales REUTERS, Rights, Royal Spanish Football, Sunday, Spain, England, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Spanish, Sydney, Australia

CNN —Luis Rubiales, the former head of Spain’s soccer federation (RFEF), has been summoned to testify before a Spanish court on Friday as part of an investigation into his unwanted kiss on Jennifer Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup final. This comes after Spain’s National Court admitted a complaint by Spanish prosecutors against Rubiales for “the crimes of sexual assault and coercion” on Monday. That process also includes requesting videos of the kiss from various news outlets, as well as footage of Spain’s Women’s World Cup medal ceremony and locker room celebrations, a court spokesman told CNN. “Well, there’s been more than Rubiales’ resignation, there’s also been other changes, we have a new coach,” Carmona said. “Rubiales’ resignation is still very recent, it only happened last night, and so we have to discuss as a group and see what happens.”

Persons: CNN — Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, ”, Luis Francisco de Jorge, LUIS MANUEL RUBIALES BÉJAR, Hermoso, Friday’s, Spain’s, –, Pedro Rocha, Jorge Vilda, Montse Tomé, Víctor Francos, Rocha, Olga Carmona, Vilda, “, there’s, ” Carmona Organizations: CNN, National Court, women’s, High Council of Sport, Nations League, Sweden Locations: Spain, Spanish, RFEF

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