Spanish FA chiefs demand Luis Rubiales quits with shamed kiss-row boss facing ‘sexual-assault’ probe and 15-YEAR ban
pa href=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23678123/spain-fa-chief-luis-rubiales-mum-hunger-strike/Rubiales, /awho is nowa href=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23678123/spain-fa-chief-luis-rubiales-mum-hunger-strike/ /afacing a #8220;sexual assault#8221; probe, has refused to step down amid the furore over kissing Spanish World Cup-winning star a href=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23671038/jenni-hermoso-sevilla-kissgate-support/Jenni Hermoso/anbsp;on the lips at the trophy presentation./p
figure id=attachment_23683366 class=wp-caption alignnone style=width: 970pximg decoding=async loading=lazy src=https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/president-royal-spanish-football-federation-840315135-3.jpg?strip=allamp;w=960 alt= class=alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-23683366 width=960 height=640 /figcaption class=wp-caption-text/figcaptionfigcreditGetty/figcredit/figureLuis Rubiales is under pressure after he kissed Jenni Hermoso as Spain received their medals and trophy for winning the women#8217;s World Cup[/caption]
figure id=attachment_23683639 class=wp-caption alignnone style=width: 970pximg decoding=async loading=lazy src=https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/luis-rubiales-announced-25-august-840862378.jpg?strip=allamp;w=960 alt= class=alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-23683639 width=960 height=640 /figcaption class=wp-caption-text/figcaptionfigcreditEPA/figcredit/figureProtests against Spanish FA president Rubiales and in support of their World Cup-winning striker Hermoso include this huge march in Madrid[/caption]
figure id=attachment_23683673 class=wp-caption alignnone style=width: 970pximg decoding=async loading=lazy src=https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-anti-rubiales-protest-support-840862958.jpg?strip=allamp;w=960 alt= class=alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-23683673 width=960 height=550 /figcaption class=wp-caption-text/figcaptionfigcreditAP/figcredit/figureAn anti-Rubiales movement in Spain is also making a general point[/caption]
figure id=attachment_23683677 class=wp-caption alignnone style=width: 970pximg decoding=async loading=lazy src=https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-president-royal-spanish-football-840147224-5.jpg?strip=allamp;w=960 alt= class=alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-23683677 width=960 height=573 /figcaption class=wp-caption-text/figcaptionfigcreditReuters/figcredit/figureRubiales announced at the end of last week he would stay in his post but that stance looks inceasingly difficult to maintain[/caption]
pThe sport#8217;s world rulers a href=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23665775/luis-rubiales-banned-fifa-kissgate-jenni-hermoso/Fifa have provisionally suspended him/a for 90 days and launched proceedings #8211; and are said to want him banned for a maximum term of 15 years, a aria-label=the Daily Mail claims. (opens in a new tab) href=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12454577/FIFA-push-Luis-Rubiales-BANNED-football-15-years-Spanish-FA-turn-president-asking-resign-Jenni-Hermoso-kiss.html target=_blank rel=noreferrer noopenerthe Daily Mail claims./a/p
pNow Spain#8217;s regional football presidents have announced after a crisis meeting on Monday a href=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23656736/who-luis-rubiales-jenni-hermoso/Rubiales/a must go as he has #8220;seriously damaged the image#8221; of the sport in Spain with his #8220;unacceptable behaviour#8221;./p
pJust three days earlier the 46-year-old won a standing ovation from part of the Spanish FA./p
pBut the country#8217;s football big-wigs appear to have had a change of heart as pressure on Rubiales soars./p
pThe Spanish FA#8217;s regional presidents held a five-hour meeting on Monday #8211; concluding he should resign IMMEDIATELY./p
pIn a lengthy statement they said: #8220;After the latest events and the unacceptable behaviors that have seriously damaged the image of Spanish football, the presidents request that Mr. Luis Rubiales immediately present his resignation as president of the RFEF.#8221;/p
pIt follows a growing range of protests from across Spain and the football world against Rubiales./p
pHe was pictured appearing to pull Hermoso in at the final ceremony after a href=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23562677/england-spain-womens-world-cup-final-carmona/Spain beat England 1-0/a in the women#8217;s World Cup final last week, before embracing and kissing her./p
figure id=attachment_23683707 class=wp-caption alignnone style=width: 513pximg decoding=async loading=lazy src=https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/jenni-hermoso-luis-rubiales-spanish-839160419-21.jpg?strip=allamp;w=503 alt= class=alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-23683707 width=503 height=672 /figcaption class=wp-caption-text/figcaptionfigcreditNot known, clear with picture desk/figcredit/figureThis is the moment Rubiales stunned the football world, leading to heavy criticism of support for him and an outpouring of support for Hermoso[/caption]
figure id=attachment_23683722 class=wp-caption alignnone style=width: 970pximg decoding=async loading=lazy src=https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-growing-number-voices-denounce-840859958.jpg?strip=allamp;w=960 alt= class=alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-23683722 width=960 height=639 /figcaption class=wp-caption-text/figcaptionfigcreditAFP/figcredit/figureProtestors held signs reading ‘Rubiales and macho mafia out’ and ‘Feminist and anticapitalist, free and combative#8217;[/caption]
pHe was also seen grabbing his crotch at the same event in Sydney. Prosecutors #8211; a href=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23680132/spain-rubiales-sexual-assault-kiss/who have launched a preliminary criminal investigation/a into a possible sexual assaullt over the kiss, have received a complaint about #8220;obscene exhibitionism before a minor#8221; over that incident./p
pa href=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23569350/spain-luis-rubiales-crotch-queen-kiss-world-cup/Spain#8217;s Princess Infanta Sofía/a was nearby when he carried out the act./p
pa href=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23663922/hermoso-did-not-consent-kiss-rubiales-spain-fa-defence/Hermoso, 33, was furious/a when Rubiales claimed the kiss after the game was #8220;consensual#8221;./p
pShe hit back with a statement explaining she #8220;felt vulnerable and the victim of aggression#8221; straight after the incident./p
pRubiales did apologise, saying: #8220;I’ve no doubt made a mistake and I have to admit it#8221;./p
pBut he then insisted he had no intention of leaving his post./p
pThat defiance, however, has only helped to deepen the outrage at his actions, as well as sparking wider criticism of his leadership./p
pThe Lionesses and LaLiga clubs joined in the surge of protests, with the public and politicians also voicing their displeasure./p
pAnd the whole coaching team of Spain#8217;s World Cup winners quit, except for manager Jorge Vilda./p
pBut Rubiales#8217; mum Angeles Bejar has taken drastic action to support him./p
pa href=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23678123/spain-fa-chief-luis-rubiales-mum-hunger-strike/The retired hairdresser has locked herself in a church/a, going on a hunger strike and demanding Hermoso tells the truth #8220;over an inhumane witch-hunt#8221;. /p
pAround 200 supporters gathered near the church to back her son, causing police to shut off nearby roads./p
pEarlier, Euro football bosses had rejected the Spanish FA#8217;s (RFEF’s) extraordinary plea to kick LaLiga clubs out of the Champions League/p
pThey asked Uefa to ban their four teams — plus Europa League and Europa Conference League representatives — amid the Rubiales crisis./p
pRFEF told the European ruling body that Spanish government attempts to get Rubiales suspended were in breach of rules on outside meddling./p
pAnd Andreu Camps, RFEF general secretary, claimed Uefa action was needed over what he called “interventionism” by Spanish ministers./p
pRFEF chiefs’ move was seen as a potential bid to silence Rubiales’ critics. Uefa rules state: “Members shall manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties.”/p
pBut Uefa do not want to get involved, insisting this is a Fifa matter./p
pIf #8220;embarrassed#8221; Fifa did try to impose the reported 15-year ban on Rubiales and the Spanish FA fought it, it could see their national team and all sides competing in European competition banned too, the Mail adds./p
figure id=attachment_23683770 class=wp-caption alignnone style=width: 970pximg decoding=async loading=lazy src=https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-confined-started-hunger-strike-840816361-1.jpg?strip=allamp;w=960 alt= class=alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-23683770 width=960 height=640 /figcaption class=wp-caption-text/figcaptionfigcreditEPA/figcredit/figureAngeles Bejar chats to a friend at la Divina Pastora church in Motril, Granada, where she has locked herself in to support her under-fire son Rubiales[/caption]