Kiss scandal “unacceptable”
Regional associations: Rubiales to resign immediately
8/29/2023 4:27 am
It’s been a long time since the Spaniards won the World Cup. Instead, the focus is on the kiss scandal surrounding the head of the association Luis Rubiales. The regional associations are also calling for the end of a meeting – and want to initiate reforms.
The presidents of the Spanish football associations have called for the immediate resignation of association boss Luis Rubiales. After a meeting, the association announced that the presidents of the regional associations “after the recent events and the unacceptable behavior that has seriously damaged the image of Spanish football” no longer want Rubiales in office.
The head of the Spanish national association RFEF kissed the player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth at the award ceremony after winning the World Cup final in Sydney on August 20 – triggering criticism and outrage at home and abroad. He has so far refused to resign. “We will request the relevant bodies to carry out a profound and immediate restructuring of the strategic positions of the federation in order to pave the way for a new phase in the governance of Spanish football,” the statement said. The world association FIFA had already suspended Rubiales for 90 days and initiated disciplinary proceedings.
Meanwhile, Spanish prosecutors have opened a case against Luis Rubiales for a criminal offense that could amount to sexual assault. The prosecutor’s office of the highest criminal court announced that she would investigate whether the non-consensual kiss of the now suspended association president on the mouth of national player Jennifer Hermoso was a “sexual assault”.
Luis Rubiales’ mother recently caused a stir. According to Spanish media reports, she went on a hunger strike because of what she said was an “inhuman and bloody hunt” for her son, which he “did not deserve”. She is said to have locked herself in a church.