Luis Rubiales took a call and listened in shock to what he was told. He asked for more time, was turned down, so he hung up and hurriedly dialled Julen Lopetegui’s number. There was no answer and very soon it was too late.
At 5.45pm Russia time on Tuesday, five minutes after the president of the Spanish Football Federation had been informed, everyone else knew too. Unforgivable, the president thought. Lopetegui, the Spain manager, had gone to see his players, to tell them what Real Madrid had just told Rubiales: that he was joining the club after the World Cup. At the same time, a statement went up on Real’s website.
Written by Sid Lowe in Sochi
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/13/spain-sack-julen-lopetegui-luis-rubiales-real-madrid-world-cup under the title “Anger and ethics at heart of Spain’s decision to sack Julen Lopetegui | Sid Lowe”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
