Rubiales Resignation Should Not Be End but Beginning of Movement, Says Stanway

Football - 2030 World Cup bid - Portugal, Spain and Ukraine Press Conference - UEFA headquarters, Nyon, Switzerland - October 5, 2022 Spanish football Federation president Luis Rubiales during the press conference. (Reuters)
Football - 2030 World Cup bid - Portugal, Spain and Ukraine Press Conference - UEFA headquarters, Nyon, Switzerland - October 5, 2022 Spanish football Federation president Luis Rubiales during the press conference. (Reuters)
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Rubiales Resignation Should Not Be End but Beginning of Movement, Says Stanway

Football - 2030 World Cup bid - Portugal, Spain and Ukraine Press Conference - UEFA headquarters, Nyon, Switzerland - October 5, 2022 Spanish football Federation president Luis Rubiales during the press conference. (Reuters)
Football - 2030 World Cup bid - Portugal, Spain and Ukraine Press Conference - UEFA headquarters, Nyon, Switzerland - October 5, 2022 Spanish football Federation president Luis Rubiales during the press conference. (Reuters)

The resignation of Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales following allegations of giving an unsolicited kiss to Jenni Hermoso should be the start of a movement rather than the end point, England's Georgia Stanway said on Monday.

Rubiales's actions following the Women's World Cup final sparked outrage in Spain and he quit his post on Sunday, saying his position had become untenable even though he continued to defend his version of events.

"Everybody's fought and we fought as a women's football group -- we fought as players, we've fought as staff, we've fought as journalists for the outcome to be what it is," Stanway told reporters ahead of Bayern Munich's season opener on Friday.

"Obviously, the outcome is what we want. But at the same time, we want this to be the start of something, rather than the end of something.

"We want to continue to be able to have these conversations, to feel comfortable to have these conversations, feel comfortable in your workplace, to be able to stand up for whatever you think is right."

Hermoso received an outpouring of support after the incident from players and government officials.

Losing finalists England also made a statement in support of Hermoso while their coach Sarina Wiegman dedicated her UEFA Women's Coach of the Year award to the Spain women's team last month even as Rubiales defied calls to quit.

"I know as a group of Lionesses and I know as a group at Bayern, we will continue to fight for what we believe is right. Even if people don't join us, we will stand by our own opinion," Stanway added.

"We have a resolution, but this is only the start of something that could end up being potentially very, very positive for the women's game."



Liverpool Goalie Alisson Is Injured and Likely to Miss Brazil World Cup Qualifiers

Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - October 5, 2024 Liverpool's Alisson Becker. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - October 5, 2024 Liverpool's Alisson Becker. (Reuters)
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Liverpool Goalie Alisson Is Injured and Likely to Miss Brazil World Cup Qualifiers

Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - October 5, 2024 Liverpool's Alisson Becker. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - October 5, 2024 Liverpool's Alisson Becker. (Reuters)

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson will miss “a few weeks” after he was injured and substituted in Saturday's English Premier League match against Crystal Palace.

Alisson appeared to hurt his hamstring when clearing the ball in the second half at Selhurst Park and had to leave the field in the 79th minute.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot expected him to miss Brazil's World Cup qualifiers and Liverpool's next game, at least.

“What we do know is that if a player walks off like he did, that normally means that he is not in the Brazil squad and I don’t expect him to be in the team in the first game we play after (the international break)," Slot said. “It is going to take a few weeks I assume for him to be back. I think it is (his hamstring).”

Brazil has World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru during the upcoming international break.

Alisson limped off to be replaced by Vitezslav Jaros. Alisson has only recently returned after a muscle injury and was holding the back of his right leg on the sideline.

First-placed Liverpool won 1-0 through Diogo Jota's goal in the ninth minute.

Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister also went off as a precaution because of an issue with his groin.

Slot said he didn't know if Mac Allister would be able to play for Argentina in its upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia.

“He went off because of an injury, but how bad it is difficult for me to judge in this moment,” he said.