In the wake of a scandal ignited by his nonconsensual kiss with Spanish football player Jenni Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, the chief of the Spanish Football Federation, stepped down from his position on Sunday.
Earlier in a televised interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored”, Rubiales acknowledged his decision to resign, voicing concerns about preserving his dignity and not causing further harm to his loved ones and the sport he cherishes.
Rubiales became the epicentre of global criticism following his inappropriate act towards Hermoso, a midfield player, during the Women’s World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20. Luis Rubiales, 46, expressed in an open letter released on Sunday evening that he had notified the federation about his resignation, which also includes relinquishing his role as the vice president of UEFA, the governing body of European football.
Legal Repercussions
FIFA swiftly imposed a provisional 90-day suspension on Rubiales, a move followed by the initiation of a lawsuit against him by Spanish public prosecutors, citing charges of sexual assault and coercion. In his letter, Rubiales mentioned the unlikelihood of returning to his previous position amidst the mounting legal actions and the apparent intentions of powerful entities to obstruct his comeback. Emphasizing his belief in the truth, Rubiales fervently vowed to employ all means to ensure its prevalence.
He stated his exit would foster “stability” for Spain’s participation in the bid to host the 2030 men’s World Cup and reiterated his insistence that the controversial kiss was consensual. Despite this, Rubiales conceded that holding onto his position would not benefit the federation or the Spanish football community, given the massive campaign against him.
Nationwide Backlash
The incident surfaced late last month and saw Rubiales kissing Jenni Hermoso without consent after awarding her the gold medal in the World Cup finals against England. This event, witnessed by dignitaries including the Spanish Queen Letizia and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, led to a nationwide demand for his resignation, voiced by several notable figures and organizations, including the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and numerous La Liga clubs.
Responding to the crisis, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) called an emergency meeting where regional presidents urged Rubiales to step down immediately to salvage the marred image of Spanish football. This sentiment was echoed by Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who later apologized for previously commending Rubiales’ decision not to resign. The repercussions have been far-reaching, causing more than 80 women’s team players to revolt and even prompting Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias to withdraw from the men’s team.
