UEFA thanks ex-Spain chief Rubiales for service at women's forum - ESPN

One day after Spanish official Luis Rubiales resigned from his leadership jobs, European soccer body UEFA hosted a storied group of women players and coaches for a conference Monday to help shape a brighter future for their game.

And when it was over, UEFA thanked its now-former vice president «for his many years of service» in its first major statement since Rubiales' conduct at the Women's World Cup final three weeks ago that is now under criminal investigation in Spain.

Three Ballon d'Or winners joined the UEFA meeting in person or online. They included Alexia Putellas, one of Spain's Women's World Cup-winning team whose triumph has been tarnished by the furor since Rubiales kissed her teammate Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy ceremony. Hermoso said it was without her consent.

At UEFA's headquarters was Veró Boquete, who as captain of the Spanish women's team eight years ago joined a player revolt that removed the long-time and unpopular male coach at the time.

«Today, this subject obviously came up,» Boquete told The Associated Press when asked if the Rubiales controversy was on the agenda. «A little bit [of] specifics but also in general, what we can do to protect players or to give them a safe space.»

UEFA launched its Football Board for women's soccer this year to create «an institutional yet independent voice of experience and expertise» on subjects including player welfare.

Its first meeting Monday afternoon in Switzerland opened less than 24 hours after Rubiales resigned. He accepted the inevitable end of his soccer presidency in Spain after three weeks of defiance and hostility toward his critics and at times Hermoso.

Rubiales, who said the kiss was consensual, is suspended by world soccer body FIFA