The former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, recently made headlines by launching his own Non-Fungible Token (NFT) on Wednesday. Rubiales claimed that the release of the NFT was intended “to support real equality.” However, this move comes amidst a backdrop of serious legal charges and controversies surrounding Rubiales.
Rubiales is currently facing charges of sexual assault and coercion in a Madrid court. These charges stem from his alleged conduct following the Women’s World Cup final in August, where he non-consensually kissed the Spain forward, Jenni Hermoso. An investigating judge has heard evidence from Hermoso, her teammates, Rubiales, and federation executives. The judge will now decide whether the case will proceed to trial.
Rubiales took to social media to share a statement from a South Korean company called The Moon Labs. The statement announced that they had created a “digital campaign environment for people who support President Luis Rubiales” and developed an NFT project to honor Rubiales for his contributions to Spanish and global football. Rubiales expressed his gratitude for the support he has received and thanked The Moon Labs for their involvement.
The NFT featuring Rubiales was released on the online marketplace OpenSea. It showcases an image of Rubiales as a child holding a football, symbolizing his early years and highlighting his cheerful personality. At the time of writing, 40 NFTs had been created, or ‘minted,’ although none had been sold.
Rubiales ignited international outrage when he kissed Hermoso during the medal ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 World Cup final win over England in August 2023. The incident led to his eventual resignation as RFEF president and a subsequent three-year ban from all football-related activities by FIFA. Hermoso filed a formal complaint with the police, which prompted the ongoing criminal investigation in Madrid. Throughout this ordeal, Rubiales has staunchly denied the charges against him.
Hermoso, the recipient of the non-consensual kiss, recently appeared on a Spanish television program. She described the incident and its aftermath as “one of the worst things that’s happened to me in my life, and very hard to deal with.” Furthermore, she accused former Spain manager Jorge Vilda, who is now the coach of Morocco, of controlling behavior during his time leading the national team.
Despite the controversy and legal proceedings surrounding Rubiales, his decision to release an NFT has garnered attention. The NFT serves as a reminder of the complexities and contradictions within the world of sports. It remains to be seen how this NFT project will play out amidst the ongoing controversy, and whether it will achieve its intended purpose of supporting real equality or face backlash for its association with Rubiales.