Spanish Court Dismisses Lawsuit by Ex-Soccer Chief Against Coach in Free Speech Ruling
A Spanish court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales against coach Javier Clemente. The lawsuit was in response to Clemente’s comments referring to Rubiales as a dangerous and ambitious guy who aimed to get rich. The court ruled that Clemente’s remarks fell under the right to free speech, categorizing them as an expression of opinion about a public figure.
The ruling, dated September 1 and seen by Reuters, stated that Clemente’s comments constituted a pure exercise of free speech within the context of expressing an opinion about a public figure. However, it is important to note that the ruling is subject to appeal.
Rubiales declined to comment on the court’s decision, while Clemente, who served as the Spain national men’s team coach during the 1990s, was unavailable for comment.
The legal battle began in 2022 when Rubiales sued Clemente following an interview in which the coach alleged that Rubiales’ goal was to amass wealth while leading the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation).
The dismissal of the lawsuit comes in the midst of an unrelated scandal involving Rubiales’ behavior at the Women’s World Cup last month. Rubiales attracted controversy when, during the medal ceremony following Spain’s World Cup victory in Sydney on August 20, he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after grabbing her head. The incident sparked widespread criticism and ignited a debate about sexism in Spanish sport and society.
Despite facing calls from players, politicians, and women’s groups to step down, Rubiales initially resisted the pressure. However, he eventually resigned as president of the RFEF on September 10, as well as from his position as vice president of UEFA. Shortly before his resignation, Hermoso filed a criminal complaint against Rubiales, accusing him of alleged sexual assault.
Javier Clemente, a former player, achieved remarkable success during his coaching career. He led Athletic Bilbao to La Liga titles and managed the Spanish national team for six years, guiding them to the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. Additionally, Clemente has coached the national teams of Serbia, Cameroon, and Libya.
The court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit acknowledges the importance of the right to free speech, especially when expressing opinions about public figures. As the ruling can still be appealed, the legal battle between Rubiales and Clemente may continue in the future.
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