Former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, released his own non-fungible token (NFT) on Wednesday, stating that it was created “to support real equality.”
The NFT release is part of a collaborative campaign with Web3 company The Moon Labs backing Rubiales amid charges of sexual assault and coercion in a Madrid court. These charges stem from his actions following the Women’s World Cup final last August, including a non-consensual kiss of Spain forward Jenni Hermoso.
The Moon Labs acknowledged the potential risks associated with supporting Rubiales in an X (Twitter) post announcing the NFT release but expressed confidence in their decision.
Rubiales reshared the post on X, expressing gratitude for the support and specifically thanking The Moon Labs for their courage.
The Ethereum-based NFT, featuring a young Rubiales holding a ball with one foot and smiling, was released on January 17 on the OpenSea marketplace with 170 versions available. The depiction aimed to evoke Rubiales’ early passion for sports and the beginning of his talent.
Although all NFTs were sold out within three hours, the initiative faced criticism from the community on X. Many voiced their reluctance to support Rubiales due to the serious accusations against him.
Meanwhile, as of the writing, the OpenSea analytics for the Rubiales NFT page indicate a total volume of 0.397 ETH (approximately $970) and a floor price of 0.049 ETH (roughly $120).
