Latest news with #Rubiales
ITV News
3 days ago
- Sport
- ITV News
Euros final: Spain are the favourites but with this England team, anything is possible
Spain are the current world champions - they're unbeaten in Switzerland, are scoring for fun and are undoubted favourites to raise the Euros trophy later this evening. But then Sweden were favourites too when they were two up against the Lionesses in the quarter-final, and likewise Italy looked home and dry with a minute left of the semi-final. It seems with this England, in this tournament, anything is possible. On the eve of their third successive major final, the Lionesses captain Leah Williamson admitted as much. 'You grow in a tournament and we're aware of that', said. 'We have to stay in it as long as possible until we take advantage of it and hopefully the saying is true, that 'the best is yet to come.'' Williamson also accepted that to beat Spain, the Lionesses could not afford to produce another lacklustre performance: 'We need to be at our best to beat Spain. I think they need to be at their best to beat us too.' In fact, England were the last team to defeat Spain, earlier this year at Wembley, but they played again in June and then the Lionesses lost a tight contest. La Roja's skipper Irene Paredes believes the familiarity between the teams means they know what to expect, and it won't be easy: 'We played against them several times. They made us suffer; we did the same so it will be a balanced game.' But she says the weight of expectation does not phase them: 'we are a team who don't see this game as pressure but as an opportunity to continue writing history, do something big and to let people enjoy.' If Spain do end up champions, few neutral observers would begrudge them given recent history. After their World Cup triumph in Australia against England, their achievement was completely overshadowed by the Rubiales affair - when his behaviour at the presentation led to a conviction for sexual assault. In the aftermath of that scandal, their win was almost forgotten about, and the squad itself never got to fully enjoy what should have been a life-changing moment, nor did they get the respect they deserved. Despite revealing she has a full squad to choose from, Lauren James is a concern for Sarina Wiegman. James was withdrawn at half-time in the last match, and her presence makes the Lionesses a more formidable proposition. Technically, the Chelsea player is England's best. She boasts a world-class catalogue of attacking skills but is also useful at protecting the ball and drawing fouls - something the Lionesses will need against a team who are averaging seventy per cent possession in this tournament so far. While she wouldn't reveal her plans exactly, Wiegman indicated she is unlikely to tamper with her starting line-up, despite the impact her substitutes have had. She likes them as weapons to deploy later in the match. Victory for Spain and they can finally step out from under that dark Rubiales cloud; if the Lionesses retain their title, just like 2022, the women's game in England will take another giant leap forward.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘They stole it from us': How Spain can reclaim their moment after Luis Rubiales scandal
When the England team left the pitch after their last match against Spain, a 2-1 comeback defeat in June's Nations League fixture, there was one overriding feeling in the dressing room. 'They're just so hard to play against', was one exhausted view. Spain's ideology means they're seen as an almost singular challenge in the women's game. The England players enjoy the test, admire the players as icons, and know the world champions are the team to beat. Spanish manager Montse Tome has still rejected the description of favourites, in that way that coaches do to try and get elite teams playing as if they are starting from scratch again. Many of Spain's world champions would actually like to start from scratch in a different sense. This singular team want their own singular victory, independent of past troubles. If it seems unfair on this historic squad for their 2023 World Cup win to always be clouded by the Luis Rubiales case, such talk is only in-keeping with the sentiments of the players themselves. Many of them speak about it in a brilliant new Netflix documentary about the story, called "Se Acabo" - 'It's over: the kiss that changed Spanish football'. Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmati goes as far as saying, 'Our World Cup win was overshadowed and, well, tarnished'. Ivana Andres adds, 'They stole it from us', before a striking revelation from Jenni Hermoso, the legend subjected to the Rubiales kiss. She admits there were flickers where she would think, 'Holy sh--, I'm a world champion', only to check herself. 'That feeling only lasts a second as I can't relive that moment,' Hermoso says. She won't get to relive any victory in Switzerland, as she has been controversially omitted from the squad, so won't get to see the many changes either. Even in the weeks before that Rubiales scandal, some of the players found circumstances so bad at the World Cup that they still can't quite understand how they won it. Bonmati admits they were asking themselves, 'How is that possible?' The contrast to the men is made explicit, as the documentary reveals remarkable messages from former captain Sergio Ramos asking Rubiales for Hublot watches. The women simply wanted flight times that could allow a decent night's sleep before big games. It is why there is now talk of a 'special spirit' around Euro 2025, all the more so because of the contrasts with the last Euros. That 2022 tournament in England is seen as another nadir, given how the squad's complaints ultimately led to the landmark moment of 'las 15'. They were the 15 players who withdrew from selection two months later, after raising concerns over how standards in Jorge Vilda's squad could be significantly improved to allow them to fulfil their potential. The downbeat mood, and failure to get beyond the quarter-finals, felt all the more inevitable due to the injury to Alexia Putellas on the eve of the tournament. There was a worrying echo of this on the eve of Euro 2025, when Aitana was last week sent to hospital with viral meningitis. Some around the squad couldn't help feel deja vu. And yet it is maybe another sign of how fortunes have changed that Aitana was out of hospital and back with the squad by Tuesday. 'Everything's going well,' Bonmati said. The words around Spain's Lausanne camp now are 'tranquility' and 'stability'. Conditions have also changed, to go with the fact the team now play with the assurance that comes from true achievement. They've been there and done it, and that through hugely difficult circumstances. Now, the squad just don't have the same distractions. Many players finally feel standards have started to be elevated to club levels, as well as those of the men. 'Everything has changed radically in terms of conditions, trips, nutrition and training,' Putellas told Marca. 'Everything we need to be the best. It's at the level of a top men's team. It's something incredible, that took a lot of work from many people.' Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey speaks of how, 'It's a more professional atmosphere, with better preparation, where they listen to us and ask what we need'. Amanda Gutierrez, the president of the Futpro union that worked with the players through the Rubiales case, still points out that changes have been 'gradual'. Duly, you probably can't go through ructions like that without some remnants of the past persisting. The omission of Hermoso has raised some old issues, as well as new questions for the coach, Tome. She had been Vilda's assistant at the 2023 World Cup, only to quickly become his successor in the overhaul after the Rubiales case. That decision was hardly praised, even though players had previously seen her as a confidante. Some felt she 'changed', with her appointment viewed as a continuation of the old regime. When Rubiales gave his infamous speech refusing to resign, Tome is seen beside Vilda applauding. In 'Se Acabo', one of the 15, Lola Gallardo, describes that moment as Vilda and Tome 'selling out their players again'. It doesn't help that, like Vilda, Tome isn't considered a coach of sufficient quality. She won the inaugural Women's Nations League months after the 2023 World Cup, but the fourth place at the 2024 Olympics was considered a failure. Hermoso even seemed to criticise Tome's abilities in a social media post, stating: 'Manage? That's what others should learn to do, that part is too big for them.' Hermoso added that she 'also has a very clear conscience', referencing Tome's own words about the decision. The manager had insisted it was purely for football reasons, although suspicion reigns. For Tome's part, other players from 'the 15' have been picked, and Hermoso is now 35 years old. There are fair arguments about whether she is still at the same level, especially against a pool overflowing with talent. Tome looked at 70 players, all amplified by that ingrained ideology. The manager told AS she did what was best 'for the squad, not what is best for Montse'. Hermoso still finished her post with a flourish, saying to let Tome 'focus now on making Spain European champions, although they would also do it on their own and surely much better'. As sharp as that sounds, many would agree. It's what happened in 2023. Spain possess such quality that they only need the most basic guidance. The sense of flow is illustrated by how, less than two years after the World Cup, only 11 of the 23-players quad remain. Members of 'the 15' in Patri Guijarro and Claudia Pina have meanwhile returned, ready to attack Euro 2025 with a new relish. Their sense of new opportunity amplifies that of the squad. In 'Se Acabo', the players openly talk about how the changes caused by the 2023 World Cup were a greater victory than the trophy. They have now given themselves the platform for a purely sporting victory. Mariona says the camp is now about 'football, only football', as Putellas offered a touching message on the eve of the tournament: 'Now it's time to enjoy, compete and give happiness.' Maybe not to the opposition.
Channel 4
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Channel 4
Sport
5m Tonight, Wembley stadium is hosting a rare heavyweight boxing battle where the winner will hold all four world title belts. 3 Jul 2025 3m Diogo Jota: Liverpool and Portugal footballer dies in car crash He was 28 and the father of three young children – and had got married just two weeks ago. 29 May 2025 2m Man, 53, charged over Liverpool parade incident Prosecutors have charged a man after a car collided with crowds celebrating Liverpool's league title. 22 Apr 2025 Eubank v Benn: Family rivalry reignited in the boxing ring Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn meet this Saturday night in north London, in what is set to be the fight of the year. This is a bout surrounded by controversy and history, and could result with one career coming to an end. 13 Apr 2025 National Park bosses warn that funding cuts threaten conservation The message from the National Park bosses that we spoke to is quite clear: they cannot keep going with the job which is required of them by law, and cannot fulfil their duties, unless we rethink the way they are financed. 1 Apr 2025 3m Settlement agreed in Celtic Boys Club sex abuse cases For young boys growing up in the green and white half of Glasgow, it offered a route to superstardom – a chance to realise the dream of playing football for Celtic. But Celtic Boys Club harboured a dark secret. 22 Feb 2025 4m England-Afghanistan cricket match to go ahead despite calls for boycott England's next game in the tournament is against Afghanistan on Wednesday in Lahore. Some MPs and human rights groups say the team should boycott the match because of the Taliban's clampdown on women's rights, which has seen the Afghan women's cricket team forced into exile. 20 Feb 2025 2m Rubiales: Spain's former football chief guilty of sexual assault The former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexual assault after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the world cup victory celebrations. 19 Feb 2025 'Gender apartheid' in cricket: Calls to boycott the Afghan team The lead up to Cricket's ICC Champions Trophy has been overshadowed by controversy over the inclusion of Afghanistan, due to the lack of rights for women under Taliban rule. 3 Feb 2025 2m Spain's Hermoso gives evidence in Rubiales sexual assault case Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso has told a court in Madrid that an unwanted kiss from the former Spanish football federation boss Luis Rubiales 'tainted one of the happiest days' of her life.
Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
What happened to Luis Rubiales and where disgraced ex-Spain chief is now
Ex-Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales saw an appeal against his sexual assault conviction dismissed last month, two years after he kissed Spain captain Jenni Hermoso without consent Luis Rubiales, the disgraced ex-president of Spain's football federation (RFEF), is nearly two years into his three-year ban from football. The 47-year-old saw an appeal over this ban dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in February, and last month, had his sexual assault conviction upheld. A moment of celebration for Spain in 2023, when they defeated England 1-0 in the Women's World Cup final, quickly developed serious undertones via Rubiales' post-match behaviour. Rubiales was criticised for a series of incidents, including carrying a player over his shoulder, giving a peck on the cheek to another, and kissing the captain of the side, Hermoso, during the medal ceremony. Such acts triggered a series of protests and calls for his resignation, which ultimately came in September of 2023. The matter involving Hermoso was taken to court, and while Rubiales has always claimed that the kiss was consensual, he was convicted of sexual assault on February 20, 2025, and ordered to pay a fine of £9,300. He was also ordered to stay at least 200m away from Hermoso and cease contact with her for one year. While Rubiales appealed this decision and the ban FIFA handed him in October 2023, both were upheld. We examine Rubiales' case in detail, including what the 47-year-old is up to now and why former captain Hermoso did not make this year's Euro 2025 Spanish squad. Where is Luis Rubiales now? In the wake of his actions, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee banned Rubiales from all football-related activities for three years in October 2023, one month after his RFEF resignation. He was provisionally suspended for an initial 90 days after the events that occurred after the World Cup final. This ban was appealed and considered by FIFA's appeal committee, but it was upheld. The case went before CAS this year and was dismissed again. This means that Rubiales' ban will last until October 2026, and he has served almost two years of it, with 14 months remaining. He has stayed silent since the appeal over his sexual assault conviction was dismissed by a Spanish court in June. Luis Rubiales' mother's hunger strike In August 2023, Rubiales' mother, Angeles Bejar, started a hunger strike in support of her child, in light of the backlash and calls for his resignation. Bejar had locked herself in a church in her hometown of Motril in southern Spain to protest how her son was being treated, and stayed in the building from Monday until Wednesday, when she was taken to a local hospital, according to a local priest. She was later discharged that evening after Rubiales visited her and departed the hospital at 11:30pm local time. Bejar told reporters before the strike that she would continue "indefinitely, day and night" amid an "inhuman and bloody hunt" for her son. Prosecutors' calls for Luis Rubiales to receive prison time Rubiales was not the only one to appeal his conviction, which saw him found guilty of sexual assault but not guilty of coercion, with it being alleged that he coerced Hermoso to downplay the post-final kiss. Prosecutors requested a retrial of the High Court sentencing in March, claiming that Rubiales deserved to be jailed and the initial judge was biased in his favour. They had demanded that Rubiales face two and a half years in prison, 12 months for sexual assault, and 18 months for alleged coercion. This was dismissed. Where is Jenni Hermoso now? Having played for Mexican side Pachuca during the incident in 2023, Hermoso later signed with Tigres UANL in 2024 and remains with the club. With Euro 2025 in full swing, record goalscorer Hermoso was not selected by Spain coach Montse Tome, who said that her absence was down to competition for places. "We have assessed her performances for Tigres and spoken with her coach, but in her position, we have Patri [Guijarro], Aitana [Bonmati], Alexia [Putellas], Maite [Zubieta], Vicky [Lopez] and even Mariona [Caldentey] or [Claudia] Pina can come in there," said Tome. "It's hard to pick 23 players, but we do the job professionally and at the end of the day, that is what we have chosen. I spoke with her at the beginning of the year about her situation and we have done the same work with her as with everyone else." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Reuters
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Bikes, berries and backheels
Sport comes down to more than scores. It's about the stakes, stories and drama unfolding, on and off the pitch. Every week, this column will act as your guide to the competition ahead — whether it's soccer under the lights, a grueling stage of the cycling tour or a centre-court showdown in tennis. We'll unpack what's happening, why it matters — and even when it doesn't, why it's still worth your time. Think of it as your essential weekend preview. Coming up: The 2025 Euros get underway with women's soccer under the spotlight, Tadej Pogacar chases history, and Wimbledon's favourite fruit feels the heat. SOCCER The Women's Euros bursts into full voice this weekend in Switzerland — banners waving, fireworks crackling, fresh hope riding the Alpine breeze. But amid the pageantry and promise, shadows persist. ACL injuries continue to rip through the women's game and are not being met with the urgency they warrant, while the echoes of sexism — loudest in the Rubiales scandal — still reverberate. Women are up to eight times more likely than men to suffer ACL injuries, yet shamefully the response remains patchy at best. Experts say the causes are complex — from training loads and poor pitch conditions to hormonal fluctuations — but many risks are preventable, and as the women's game accelerates, the systems meant to protect its players are struggling to keep up. And it's not just knees buckling under the weight of neglect — it's the culture, too. Spain's 2023 World Cup triumph should have been a coronation. Instead, it became a cautionary tale — not for how they played or what they won, but for what they endured. When former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales brazenly planted a nonconsensual kiss on forward Jennifer Hermoso amid the team's medal ceremony, what was meant to be a moment of celebration turned into a jarring emblem of lingering chauvinism — one that clings to their legacy like a scar. The fallout, and the long fight for accountability, laid bare just how far the sport still has to go. Then there's Mary Earps. Golden Glove winner. British national icon. BBC Sports Personality of the Year. But when she announced her international retirement just weeks before this tournament, she was met with a fierce backlash. Her timing, motives, and loyalty were all questioned. Earps later told a podcast she felt 'villainised.' Would a male player of her stature have faced the same scrutiny? Perhaps. But the ferocity of the reaction spoke volumes about how elite women's sport is still perceived, despite the glitter attached to the major championships. For all the talent, spectacle and momentum, women's football remains too often denied the care, respect and investment that define the so-called big time. Still, that balance could begin to shift this month — if only by a stride – and the Swiss are giving it every chance. Basel has gone purple and sky blue, its green trams turned into rolling billboards for the event the Swiss hope will bolster women's football in the country for the long-term. England showed what legacy could look like. A 140% rise in female participation after Euro 2022 wasn't just a stat — it was a statement. Lioness Ella Toone getting recognised while buying eggs at Aldi is its own kind of revolution. This year's tournament has already broken records — in ticket sales, prize money, and expectations. The players understand the stakes. 'You play for the whole next generation,' said Norway captain Ada Hegerberg — a truism that is both galvanising and daunting. On the field, Spain remain favourites, but a health scare for midfielder Aitana Bonmati could open the door for Germany or France, while a well-drilled Sweden are quietly gathering steam. Switzerland may not replicate England's 2022 fairytale, but as hosts, they've already scored a win. And England? There are question marks, yes, but with manager Sarina Wiegman's tactical brilliance and tournament nous, a thrilling run deep into July is well within Women's EURO 2025, Switzerland — July 2-27 CYCLING Tadej Pogacar stands at history's doorstep. As the 112th Tour de France pushes off from Lille on Saturday, he's chasing more than just a fourth yellow jersey. Victory would seat him at the table with Tour juggernaut Chris Froome and edge him within striking distance of cycling's immortals: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. Yet, Pogacar's appeal goes way beyond the numbers. Like Merckx and Hinault, he's not only dominant in the high mountains of Grand Tours but also thrives in the tough one-day classics. The Slovenian has already etched his name into three of cycling's five Monuments—Lombardia, Flanders, and Liege—races of mythic struggle and prestige. Twice he's flirted tantalizingly close with completing the set, standing on the podium at Milan–San Remo and Paris–Roubaix. Even his lone Vuelta appearance, in 2019, saw him finish third—an omen, perhaps, that Spain's red jersey could one day join his overflowing wardrobe. Only Merckx has conquered all three Grand Tours and all five Monuments, a testament to complete mastery that Pogacar now dares to dream of matching. Awaiting him at this year's Tour is Jonas Vingegaard, restored and ready to resume their rivalry. Unlike last season, the Dane is unhampered by injury and prepared to challenge the Slovenian who, only a year ago, achieved what many considered impossible: the Giro-Tour double, cycling's Holy Grail untouched since Marco Pantani's luminous ride in 2025 Tour de France — July 5-27 TENNIS When seated within the manicured calm of the All England Club, it's easy to imagine nothing ever changes in this pocket of English refinement and sporting opulence. But the truth is, while the setting whispers tradition, nothing is sacred. Those who oversee one of the world's most iconic sporting events leave no stone unturned in ensuring Wimbledon stays at the cutting edge. This year, the linen-trousered, blazer-clad line judges — century-old fixtures of Wimbledon decorum — are gone, replaced by the cool certainty of AI. Gone too, presumably, are the you-cannot-be-serious eruptions that once leapt from the baseline into sporting folklore. Even the famous Wimbledon strawberry can no longer rest on its laurels. The Malling Centenary variety has sweetened this summer ritual since 2016. But in the high-stakes world of soft fruit supremacy, no berry is safe. In labs and fields across the UK, rivals are ripening — firmer, juicier, more photogenic — all vying to dethrone the champ. At Wimbledon, even the strawberries face the pressure of performance. No detail is spared in ensuring Wimbledon looks and feels just right — down to staff peeling the labels off water bottles to keep branding invisible. In a place where the grass is trimmed to the millimetre and the dress code enforced with monastic zeal, even hydration must meet the aesthetic. The Wimbledon Championships, All England Club, London — June 30–July 14 EXTRA TIME NBA: Top pick Cooper Flagg makes his much-hyped Mavericks debut on Summer League opening night in Vegas on July 10, facing a Lakers squad that may feature Bronny James — son of LeBron — in a matchup already dripping with next-gen star power. Athletics: The Prefontaine Classic turns 50 this Saturday, and the field is pure fire. In the men's 100m, Jamaican rocket Kishane Thompson with a personal best of 9.75 seconds run last week leads the charge against comeback king Trayvon Bromell and Britain's Zharnel Hughes. Olympic champ Masai Russell stars in the women's hurdles, while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone trades barriers for raw speed in the 400m flat. Track fans, buckle up. WNBA: The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA's newest expansion team that entered the league this season with considerable hype, take on the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday at Target Center. The Valkyries' (9 games won with 7 defeats so far) last home game – an 84-57 dismantling of the Seattle Storm on Sunday – played out in front of a sold-out crowd that included two-time NBA MVP and four-time champion Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and a slew of other famous fans. Rugby: Wales head to Japan still searching for a win on Saturday after 17 straight losses. Can they finally topple Eddie Jones and the Brave Blossoms? Motor Racing: Silverstone roars to life as Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton lead a blockbuster home charge at the 2025 British Grand Prix, with up to half a million Formula One fans expected. Norris is chasing his first win on home soil, while Hamilton — now donning Ferrari red — looks to extend his record haul of nine victories at the iconic track. Oscar Piastri has plans to spoil the party, and Mercedes duo George Russell and Kimi Antonelli could shake things up, especially if the English summer turns soggy. Don't forget Red Bull's Max Verstappen, fired up after last week's Austrian exit, ready to crash the British bash.
