{"id":96550,"date":"2023-09-01T14:00:18","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T14:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/09\/01\/spain-mens-head-coach-asks-for-forgiveness\/"},"modified":"2023-09-01T14:00:18","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T14:00:18","slug":"spain-mens-head-coach-asks-for-forgiveness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/09\/01\/spain-mens-head-coach-asks-for-forgiveness\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain men’s head coach asks for ‘forgiveness’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Luis de la Fuente (right) was appointed Spain men’s head coach in December 2022
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The head coach of Spain\u2019s men\u2019s team has asked for \u201cforgiveness\u201d after applauding the speech in which Luis Rubiales said he\u00a0would not resign\u00a0for kissing player Jenni Hermoso.<\/p>\n

Luis de la Fuente said it was an \u201cinexcusable human error\u201d but added he would not step down from his job.<\/p>\n

Rubiales, president of Spain\u2019s football federation, kissed Hermoso on the lips after their\u00a0Women\u2019s World Cup win.<\/p>\n

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Hermoso said the kiss during the medal ceremony was not consensual.<\/p>\n

In a speech last Friday, Rubiales \u2013 who has since been\u00a0suspended by Fifa\u00a0\u2013 refused to step down and said he was facing a \u201csocial assassination\u201d.<\/p>\n

De La Fuente and women\u2019s head coach Jorge Vilda were among those pictured applauding the speech, although both later released statements condemning Rubiales\u2019 behaviour.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, De La Fuente said: \u201cAlmost all of us RFEF (Spanish Football Federation) workers went in there thinking that we were going to see the dismissal of a president and we found something completely different. It was not easy to digest. It was a situation that overwhelmed me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have not felt betrayed by Luis Rubiales, but I arrived thinking that it was going to be a resignation meeting and we were shocked when we saw that it was not this way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have to resign, I have to ask for forgiveness. I made a mistake, an inexcusable human error. If I could go back I wouldn\u2019t commit that act again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am on the side of equality and respect. We all have to improve in terms of equality and I am the first.\u201d<\/p>\n

After Rubiales\u2019 suspension by Fifa,\u00a0Spanish prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into whether the incident amounts to a crime of sexual assault.<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Sports Tribunal (TAD) met on Monday to discuss the Spanish government\u2019s request to suspend Rubiales. The announcement on a decision has been expected imminently for some time.<\/p>\n

Speaking prior to announcing his squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers, De La Fuente said he did not fear losing the respect of his players.<\/p>\n

Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias, who won the second of his two caps for Spain in March, made himself unavailable for selection \u201cuntil things change\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not afraid of losing the trust of the dressing room because of everything that has happened over the past few days,\u201d said De La Fuente.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have known me since they were very young, they know what values I have. I have always behaved within the framework of maximum respect for equality.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Iglesias, he said \u201cthe doors are open\u201d for the 30-year-old to return to the squad when he is ready.<\/p>\n

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