Spanish FA (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales has claimed Javier Tebas, the LaLiga director, was behind a smear campaign against him, which started with leaked WhatsApp messages.
LaLiga Club Valencia, Seville and Villarreal ask for an apology from Rubiales Earlier this month, after El Confidencial newspaper published a number of messages that the Spanish FA director sent to his father in which he expressed his dislike of the three clubs.
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“That information came out the same day we held the confederations congress,” Rubiales said in an interview with Spanish radio station COPE.
“Soon after, a statement from those clubs came out. Tebas was behind it, he called the places I went to crush me wherever I went… That’s obvious.”
LaLiga declined to comment on the record when contacted by ESPN.
The Spanish Football Federation revealed in April that documents and information had been stolen from email accounts, including private texts and audio chats from executives. top of the union.
Since then, leaked audio messages have been published in the Spanish press, making Rubiales the center of attention.
A defiant Rubiales says that those who try to discredit him will not succeed.
“I see no way that I should resign because I am so calm with my management,” said Rubiales. “Our management is excellent.
“When I come [as RFEF president], I didn’t think it was so cruel. What they are doing to me is dishonest.
“They want to bring someone [in charge] they can control… I’m not a president bowing to the realms of power. “
Earlier on Monday, Tebas said on Twitter: “We will give out Rubialejo [Rubiales] for the Nobel Peace Prize (ironically), each must be held accountable for his actions and the consequences…”
Leaked information includes news Gerard PiqueKosmos’s company acted as an intermediary in the Spanish FA’s agreement to have Saudi Arabia host the Spanish Super Cup, leading to allegations of a conflict of interest.
Rubiales has also denied allegations from his uncle and former RFEF director Juan Rubiales that the federation’s money was used for private events.
“I didn’t commit any illegal acts and they won’t be able to prove anything,” Rubiales said. “Not a penny of the euro was misdirected during my time as president. I can justify all the expenses.”
Rubiales has been at odds with Tebas since 2013, when the former player took the helm of the Spanish Footballers Federation (AFE). Since he was elected president of the RFEF in May 2018, there have been many disputes at the heart of Spanish football, some of which have had to be resolved in court.
Rubiales recorded messages sent to his father in which he named three clubs he disliked the most.
“I haven’t spoken to the presidents of those clubs yet,” said Rubiales. “I’ll do the same when I see them next time.
“A private matter is a private matter, it is a conversation with my father. I am a former player who played at Levante and who has a head-to-head relationship with other clubs that I respect a lot. That rivalry is still there.
“Thinking it can go beyond that is bad thinking.”
Rubiales, meanwhile, also talks about ongoing conflict in the Spanish women’s national team.
Fifteen internationals refused to play in Spain’s last two friendlies earlier this month because of friction with the federation over head coach Jorge Vilda.
Spain draw 1-1 with Switzerland don’t have those 15 players and then beat USA for the first time in a 2-0 win last week.
“My last message to the players on August 15 was to ask them to speak,” said Rubiales. “Then there was a riot and 15 personal emails about mental health. I gave the possibility to any player to come talk to me or to someone else at the federation. If they refused. that route and what they try to do is disrupt the order… the lineup and the calls are made by the coaches.”
