The discussion between Rubiales and Lopetegui before the sacking

In what Florentino Perez described as an act of transparency, Rubiales could only see an act of betrayal and disloyalty to the national side. One thing that is for certain is that a new chapter has been written in the history of the Spanish team, a chapter that will never be forgotten.

Just two days before the World Cup in Russia, Real Madrid announced an agreemt with Lopetegui to join the club after the tournament. The manager signed for 'Los Blancos' and decided to make the news public as to avoid leaks and to be open with theSpanish public.

However, Rubiales was only informed of the decision at the last minute and took the values of the Spanish FA to their extreme.

The president of the FA landed in Krasnodar, the team's base, and announced a press conference for the following day, the same day in which he spent in a meeting that lasted more than hour which resulted in the most controversial outcome possible, that Lopetegui should return to Madrid.

The newspaper 'Marca' has tried to compile what happened in the hours leading up to the sacking and how the decision came about. Rubiales was in his office until the early hours of the morning with Lopetegui and Hierro visiting him.

Rubiales looked at his options and, as the newspaper states, had reached his decision by the time talks had recomenced at 8 a.m. At this the time head of the FA could not believe what was happening.

Rubiales told Lopetegui that his best option would be to resign, something which the former-Spain coach could not agree to: "I'm not resigning. If you want me to leave, you'll have to sack me".

The heavy hitters in the Spanish team met with Rubiales to try and convince him not to get rid of Lopetegui, that it wouldn't make sense to do so.

But the president went into to the press conference and announced that Lopetegui had to pack up his things, with the coach having to leave just 48 hours before the team's first match.