Luis Rubiales (46), president of the Spanish Football Association, said, “Asian football, such as Korea and Japan, has grown to a level that threatens the sex world.”

He said it was no coincidence that Spain lost to Japan at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

On the morning of the 2nd, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, President Rubiales reflected on the defeat against Japan in the Qatar World Cup group stage and expressed his views on the development of Asian football.안전놀이터

He visited Korea for the first time after being invited by 3D Factory, a company specializing in the sports metaverse platform, which has an official partnership with the Spanish Football Association.

President Rubiales said, “I am also the vice-president of the European Football Federation (UEFA). I ​​have a good understanding of the level of world and Asian football.”

He continued, “It is no coincidence that Spain lost to Japan during the World Cup.

Contrary to the expectations before the match, Japan won 2-1 in a come-from-behind victory, advancing to the round of 16 as top of the group.

President Rubiales said repeatedly, “I know that the level of Asian soccer has recently improved.”

President Rubiales said, “Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae are players who know too well,” and “I know Hwang Hee-chan well.

He added, “Dani Olmo of the Spanish national team used to be on the same team as Hwang Hee-chan. I’ve been paying attention since then.”

Midfielder Olmo (25), considered the future of Spain, has been playing for Leipzig in the German professional football Bundesliga since 2020.

In the 2020-2021 season Bundesliga match against Dortmund in the 32nd round of the 2020-2021 season when Hwang Hee-chan belonged to Leipzig, he received a pass from Hwang Hee-chan and scored a goal to tie the score 2-2 and presented an assist.

The player Rubiales paid the most attention to was his “junior” Lee Kang-in (Mallorca).

President Rubiales, a former player, worked for Mallorca B team, which belonged to the third division in 1999, for one year.

He said, “I have a special interest in Mallorca’s days. A Korean player is taking special care of the club I have a heart for.”

He added, “I often think how great it would be if more Korean players like Lee Kang-in made it to the Spanish team.”

President Rubiales emphasized, “The women’s national team players should be treated just as well as the men’s national team.”

On June 15 of last year, President Rubiales signed an agreement to pay rewards for major competitions such as the World Cup and the European Football Championship to the women’s national team players at the same level as the men’s players by 2027.

When he took office in 2018, he expressed his aspirations to “create an association for all,” announcing the agreement, saying, “We must try to close the gap with men’s sports while promoting women’s sports.”

On this day, President Rubiales said, “In Spain, there are six women’s national teams by age group. However, we have been investing more money in the men’s team,” adding, “We wanted to change this trend. Thanks to various measures, our women’s team has been We’re making 2nd or 3rd place,” he pointed out.

“Our goal is for the women’s team to become the best in the world from 2026 to 2028. We are supporting staff such as medical staff at the same level as the men’s team,” he said. target,” he said.

He added, “I think the level of Korean football is very high. However, Korean football is also of a high level, so I want to respect it for itself.” .

President Rubiales emphasized the need to invest in areas other than the ‘elite men’s national team’ at a press conference afterwards.

He said, “In order to raise the level of football in any country, staff are needed. Spain has also been supported by powerful staff for 20 years.” , I want to share the concept that football starts at the grassroots like this, whether it’s a woman or not.”

He explained that the reason why he signed an official partnership with 3D Factory was because he saw the need for football to expand into the metaverse.

Under this partnership, 3D Factory will exclusively produce and operate metaverses using the names of clubs belonging to the Spanish Football Association for the next five years.

Oh Byung-ki, CEO of 3D Factory, the main sponsor of the Supercopa (Super Cup) and Copa del Rey (King’s Cup), said that they are promoting a friendly match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, ​​which represent the prestigious Primera Liga, in Korea.

President Rubiales said, “Our goal is to show the world of football in the metaverse together with the 3D Factory.”