Sergio Ramos and Carvajal disagree over Spaish FA president's suspension

Two former teammates in the Spanish national team and Real Madrid have disagreed over the Kissate scandal involving the Spanish Fa's president Luis Rubiales

Former Real Madrid teammates Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal have expressed widely differing views of the ongoing Kissgate scandal involving suspended Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales. 

Sergio Ramos critical of Luis Rubiales

Rubiales was suspended from his role as RFEF president for 90 days by FIFA while he undergoes an investigation into his behaviour, specifically an incident at the end of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup when the FA president appeared to forcefully kiss Spanish women’s national team player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips. 

The embattled president’s suspension has caused debates in Spain over how culpable he is in the harassment of Hermoso, and the former Spanish men’s national team captain has slammed Rubiales for what he deemed to be “unacceptable” conduct. 

He told Relevo, “It is a delicate issue, he has behaved in an unacceptable manner, he has made a mistake. Instead of talking about Rubiales, we have to take the opportunity to congratulate the women’s team, world champions. That’s what we should talk about.”

He also appeared to condemn Rubiales, ending his exposition by saying, “I hope that football has the representatives it really deserves.”

Carvajal leaps to Rubiales’ defence

His former international and club teammate Dani Carvajal has taken a different stance on the issue, saying that he would wait until an official court process was conducted and found Rubiales guilty of any crimes before forming an opinion on the issue, before then appearing to support the embattled FA President. 

Carvajal had been one of four captains of the Spanish men’s national team who presented a damning letter condemning Rubiales’ action, but the defender has come out after that to openly call for patience in the matter, while also defending Rubiales’ character. 

He told Relevo, “I only defend the presumption of innocence, which is a constitutional right for everyone in this country – I’ll stick to that. 

“You cannot blame or victimise anyone without a firm sentence. The statement was complicated to get 24 people to agree on it. We did it with good intentions for them, for us, and for any fan. It was a statement that was in agreement with what we represent.”

He further stated that he had no problems with Rubiales, who he described as excellent and exceptional. 

“The opinion I have of Rubiales is that he has always had excellent professional relationship with me, said Carvajal,” continuing, “Everything he has been able to help us with, regarding families or trips, has been exceptional. I am not the one to clean out, do or undo in the RFEF, I speak as a player and I cannot have a go at him.” 

Rubiales is set to face civil prosecution over the Kissgate scandal after the player involved, Hermoso, officially filed a complaint against the suspended RFEF president. 

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