The leaders of the Spanish Soccer Federation have asked the suspended president Luis Rubiales to resign after the scandal caused by kissing Jenni Hermoso in the final of the women’s World Cup.
The presidents of the territorial federations of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) formulated the request in a joint statement in which they request Rubiales to present his resignation as president of the same.
“After the latest events and the unacceptable behaviors that have seriously damaged the image of Spanish football, the presidents request that Luis Rubiales immediately present his resignation as president of the RFEF,” they stated in the statement.
Also urged interim president Pedro Rocha to immediately withdraw the federation’s request to the Uefa to suspend him from all international competition due to government interference over his claims to remove Rubiales.
This request was interpreted as an attempt to silence some of Rubiales’s detractors, including government ministers who have lost their dismissal, since a suspension leads to a veto of the Spanish clubs in the Champions League, and could generate a turn in public opinion so that he remains at the helm of the Federation.
Soccer governing bodies have established regulations that prohibit government interference in the management of domestic federations. However, the Uefa decided not to comply with the request of the Spanish Federation.
Rubiales has been harshly criticized everywhere for his behavior in the women’s World Cup final, when he kissed forward Hermoso on the lips without her consent at the award ceremony. FIFA has provisionally suspended him while they conduct an investigation into his conduct.
The unprecedented request of the Spanish Federation would have the purpose of provoking the fans of powerful clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as the men’s team, so that Rubiales clings to the position. Rubiales also serves as vice president of UEFA.
The Spanish clubs will participate on Thursday in the draw for the group stage of the Champions League that will be carried out by UEFA. The Men’s National Team will play on September 8 and 12 in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
The FIFA suspension prevents Rubiales from participating in administrative activities and meetings with other leaders. He cannot intervene in Spain’s bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal, Morocco and possibly Ukraine.
Ángeles Béjar (in green) asks that the “inhumane hunt” of her son be stopped. EFE/A. Beixas
Rubiales’ mother goes on hunger strike
The mother of the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, began a hunger strike yesterday in defense of her son.
Ángeles Béjar, Rubiales’ mother, told the state news agency EFE that she will be on hunger strike “indefinitely, day and night until the end of” the inhumane and bloody hunt that they are carrying out with my son.
Béjar, is located in the Church of the Divina Pastora in Motril, a Mediterranean town located about 70 kilometers south of the city of Granada. The Archbishopric of Granada, in charge of the church, said in a message that the archbishopric and the parish would refrain from any comment on Béjar and forwarded all interview requests to the family.
Outside the parish, Rubiales’ cousin, Vanessa Ruiz, accompanied Béjar to ask the player Jenni Hermoso to “tell the truth.” Ruiz added that the family is suffering a lot and described Rubiales as “a good person, very noble.”
Yesterday, first thing in the morning, The Spanish Prosecutor’s Office opened a preliminary investigation against Rubiales to determine if the kiss to the current Pachuca player constitutes a sexual assault. Hermoso has 15 days to formalize that he was a victim of this crime.
Read Also
Get the latest news in your email
Everything you need to know to start your day
Registering implies accepting the Terms and Conditions
