Spanish Leaders Demand Rubiales’ Resignation Over His Non Consensual Kiss to Spanish Player
On Monday, August 29, 2023, the heads of the regional bodies that make up the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) issued a collective statement calling on suspended president Luis Rubiales to resign.
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The statement said that Rubiales’ behaviour at the Women’s World Cup, including kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent, had caused “great damage to the image of Spanish soccer”.
Hermoso has said that she felt like the “victim of assault” and that the kiss was not consensual. Prosecutors have said that they will contact Hermoso to offer her a chance to file a lawsuit within 15 days.
Rubiales has been defiant regarding the kiss, calling it “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual”. However, he has also said that he is willing to resign if the RFEF’s ethics committee finds that he violated the federation’s code of conduct.
The RFEF’s ethics committee is expected to issue its findings in the coming days. If the committee finds that Rubiales violated the code of conduct, he could be suspended or even expelled from the federation.
The scandal has cast a shadow over Rubiales’ presidency, which has been marked by controversy since he took office in 2018. Rubiales has been accused of financial mismanagement and of using his position to enrich himself. He has denied all of the allegations.
The pressure on Rubiales to resign is likely to increase in the coming days. It remains to be seen whether he will bow to the calls for his resignation or whether he will try to weather the storm.
It is unclear what will happen next. Rubiales could face disciplinary action from the RFEF or from FIFA. He could also be charged with a crime.
The situation is a major embarrassment for the RFEF and for Spanish soccer. It remains to be seen whether Rubiales will be able to weather the storm and remain in office.
