The suspended president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, who caused international indignation for having forcibly kissed the player Jennifer Hermoso after the world coronation of the “Roja”, announced this Sunday evening his resignation. “About my resignation, yes, I will do it, yes, because I cannot continue my work,” he said in English in an interview with British television journalist Piers Morgan.
Rubiales added that those close to him told him, “Luis, you have to worry about your dignity and move on with your life. Otherwise, you’re going to hurt the people you love and the sport you love.” The Spanish Football Federation confirmed the information of the resignation. “He informed the federation in a letter addressed to Pedro Rocha Junco (interim president). He also resigned from his position as UEFA vice-president,” the RFEF said in a statement. It will now begin a process to appoint Rubiales’ replacement.
NEW: Luis Rubiales tells Piers Morgan the reasons why he’s decided to step down as Head of the Spanish Football Federation.@piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #PMUpic.twitter.com/agF1ENrYXz
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) September 10, 2023
“The former president of the RFEF did what he had to do, I think that’s what all Spanish citizens asked of him”, commented the Secretary of State for Sports, Victor Francos, at the microphone of radio Cadena Ser.
“It’s finish”
On the social network used to express their protest. “The feminist country is moving faster and faster,” said Yolanda Diaz, second deputy prime minister of the Spanish government. “The transformation and improvement of our lives is inevitable. We are with you, Jenni, and with all women,” she added on X.
In his resignation letter, Rubiales says he acted with the concern to protect Spanish football, but again defends himself from having attacked the international, aged 33. “Following the rapid suspension of Fifa and the procedures opened against me, it is obvious that I will not be able to regain my position,” he wrote in this letter. “I don’t want Spanish football to suffer the damage of this disproportionate campaign” launched, according to him, against him, he said again. “I trust the truth and will do everything in my power to ensure it prevails,” Rubiales concluded his letter.
On August 20, a few minutes after the world title of the women’s “Roja” in Sydney, the 46-year-old Spanish football boss kissed Jenni Hermoso on the mouth by surprise, provoking indignation in Spain and across the country. world. Refusing to resign for “a little consensual kiss”, he attacked, during a resounding speech on August 25, a supposed “false feminism” and argued that he had obtained the player’s authorization before kissing her. A version denied by Jenni Hermoso who said she “felt vulnerable and victim (…) of an impulsive and sexist act, inappropriate and without any consent on her part”.
A complaint of sexual assault
Suspended by Fifa for a period of 90 days, Rubiales also risks being prosecuted for “sexual assault” by the Spanish courts, the prosecution having requested his indictment on Friday after receiving a complaint from Jennifer Hermoso. Since a recent reform of the Spanish Penal Code, a Non-consensual kissing can be considered sexual assault, a criminal category that includes all types of sexual violence. According to a spokesperson for the prosecution, the penalty incurred by Luis Rubiales ranges from a fine to four years in prison.
Australian police in New South Wales told AFP on Monday that they were ready to cooperate with the Spanish investigation, indicating that they had not been contacted for the moment. This affair plunged Spanish football into chaos in the midst of its bid to host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco, and overshadowed the world title of the women’s national team. Criticized by his players, coach Jorge Vilda, close to Rubiales, was sacked on Tuesday by the federation and replaced by his former assistant, Montse Tomé.
His counterpart in the men’s team, Luis De la Fuente, had to ask for “forgiveness” last week for having applauded, like many members of the federation, Rubiales’ speech on August 25. The first woman to lead the women’s selection, Montse Tomé will have to quickly convince the 23 world champions to end their strike while the next international matches will take place on September 22 and 26.