Rubiales has indeed been at the centre of Spanish football for so long, and his influence has been so pervasive that, tempting though it has been, it has become hard to imagine the RFEF without him. His players had accused him of emotional abuse, with 12 making themselves unavailable for selection while he remained in charge. As the sport begins to heal, however, it will become clearer that while Rubiales and Vilda caused problems, they were two symptoms of a wider picture. As for Rubiales, he admitted he had resigned partly in the hope that it would aid Spain’s bid, launched alongside Morocco, for the 2030 World Cup. With Rubiales and Vilda out, Spanish football can start to rebuild but the scars that have been left are deep – and they were never just about two men.

Source: Metro September 11, 2023 22:07 UTC