Barack Obama's kept a relatively low profile since leaving office, but he can still be relied upon to be used as a convenient buttress for beleaguered leaders in need of a bit of heavyweight backup.

This time it's Spanish FA head Luis Rubiales, who says that the 44th President of the United States and his advisers "were in line with the decision" to sack Spain manager Julen Lopetegui a day before Spain were due to play Portugal in their first World Cup match.

The pair met at a reception in Madrid while the Obama family were on holiday. "What surprised me is that he knew much more than I thought he did," Rubiales told the Spanish radio station Cadana Cope. "There was a reference to certain issues in which he said some decisions made in the United States had a patriotic tone whereas here, they were more difficult to take, something along those lines.

"What he tried to tell me is that inaction generally produces less rejections and less criticism, but that at times, you have to act. And, from what I can gather, he and his entourage were in line with the decision we had taken."

Whether Obama and his entourage were in line with Spain tapping the ball about in central midfield for 85 minutes against Russia is unclear, but Rubiales certainly feels that having the former leader of the free world's backing all but closes the case.

"I never doubted my decision, I had it clear, it was a case of values, philosophy... but I respect all points of view."