Spain’s Football President Has Finally Resigned After He Forcibly Kissed A Woman Player On The Lips
Luis Rubiales said he has “faith in the truth” and will do “everything in my power to prevail.”
Luis Rubiales, the president of Spain’s football federation, has finally announced he will resign after sparking an uproar when he forcibly kissed a woman player on the lips following the country’s Women’s World Cup win in August.
Rubiales caused a public uproar when he kissed Spanish woman player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips without her consent at the medal ceremony after the team’s World Cup win on Aug. 20.
In a video, Rubiales can be seen hugging soccer player, Jennifer Hermoso, before grabbing her head and kissing her on the lips.
His actions caused an uproar, with women taking to the streets in support of Hermoso, who said she had not consented to the kiss.
“I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part,” Hermoso wrote on her social media. “Simply put, I was not respected.”
Despite mounting calls for him to resign, Rubiales had initially refused, calling the kiss “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consented” at a press conference, where he said he was the victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists”, according to AP.
A day later, FIFA suspended Rubiales for 90 days and opened disciplinary proceedings against him.
As the fallout continued, the Spanish football federation then fired Jorge Vilda, the women’s team coach, saying that it was one of its first “renewal measures.”
On Friday Sep. 8, Spanish prosecutors opened an sexual assault case against Rubiales after Hermoso filed a formal complaint.
Finally on Sunday Sep. 10, in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Rubiales wrote that he had tendered his resignation.
“Insisting on waiting and holding on is not going to contribute to anything positive, neither to the Federation nor to Spanish football,” he wrote. “Among other things, there are forces that will prevent my return.”
He said that with FIFA’s suspension and the proceedings against him, it became evident that he will not be able to return to his position.
Rubiales said he had also resigned from his position as vice president of UEFA.
“I have faith in the truth, and I will do everything be in my power to prevail,” he wrote. “My daughters, my family and the people who love me have suffered the effects of excessive persecution, as well as many falsehoods, but it is also true that on the street, more and more every day, the truth is prevailing.”
Rubiales’ resignation has been welcomed by women.
“It’s over,” Spain’s equality minister, Irene Montero, wrote on X, using the slogan that women have been sharing to support Hermoso.
“The feminist country is advancing faster and faster. The transformation and improvement of our lives is inevitable. We are with you, Jenni, and with all women,” Yolanda Díaz, the country’s second deputy prime minister also wrote on X.
