Three weeks after the kissing incident, Spain’s football president Luis Rubiales resigns

Three weeks after his kiss of a player on the lips marred Spain’s first-ever Women’s World Cup victory, Luis Rubiales, the suspended president of the Spanish Football Federation, finally buckled under intense criticism and resigned on Sunday.

After he kissed Jenni Hermoso at the internationally televised awards ceremony on August 20 in Sydney, Australia, after Spain defeated England to win the championship, Rubiales found himself in the center of a scandal that had spread well beyond the boundaries of Spain and the world of sports. The athlete claimed that she did not agree to the kiss.

In a statement published on X, now known as Twitter, on Sunday, Rubiales said, “It is apparent that I cannot return to the office after my fast suspension by FIFA and the rest of the charges developing against me.

FIFA had already temporarily banned him from his position due to his behavior during the final, but he maintained his defiance and hostility against those who condemned him even after the international governing body of football launched a disciplinary process.

When Spanish state prosecutors charged Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion following the kiss on Friday, two days after Hermoso had officially accused him of sexual assault, it was the most severe danger to date for Rubiales.

Rubiales, who was once the most influential figure in Spanish football, argued that the kiss was consensual and performed in a “moment of jubilation.” According to him, it was comparable to one “I could give one of my daughters.”

In remarks made public by her and her players’ union, Hermoso refuted that assertion. The player said that the federation had put pressure on her and her family to back Rubiales. Rubiales was openly opposed by supporters, athletes, and politicians who saw it as a misogynistic conduct and a misuse of power.

According to Spain’s Secretary of State for Sport Victor Francos, the former head of the Spanish football federation “has done what he had to do.” I believe he did what almost the whole Spanish society had requested.

The reputational damage the scandal might do to Spain’s joint bid with Portugal, Morocco, and perhaps Ukraine to host the 2030 men’s World Cup, according to Rubiales, who also announced his resignation as vice president of UEFA.

When Rubiales was suspended on August 26, Pedro Rocha took over as the temporary president of the Spanish federation, and Rubiales claimed that Rocha was informed of his resignation late Sunday night. In a statement, the Spanish federation acknowledged Rubiales’ resignation and said that it will adhere to its bylaws and hold a presidential election.

Also on Sunday, in response to a query from British talk show presenter Piers Morgan on TalkTV, Rubiales declared, “I am going to (resign), I cannot continue my work.” Sunday’s publication of the show’s clips coincided with the appearance of Rubiales’ social media post.

“Luis, you now have to focus on your dignity and to continue your life, because if you don’t, probably you are going to harm people you love, and the sport you love,” some very close friends told me after I talked with my father and kids. Morgan was informed by Rubiales.

“In this situation right now, (it is) the thing I have to do.”

In light of the rapid backlash against him for his actions during the final, which included a sexual gesture of grasping his crotch with Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter, Princess Sofa, present, Rubiales had been predicted to resign two weeks before. Instead, he refused to give up and said that he was the target of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists” in a forceful address delivered on August 25 before the general assembly of his federation.

Just one day later, FIFA temporarily suspended him, the Spanish government filed a request to have him declared ineligible to hold office, and Hermoso accused him of sexual assault.

In the midst of discussion of a “Me Too” movement in Spanish football, Rubiales’ actions during one of football’s main international competitions drew criticism from Spain’s politicians, football leagues, clubs, players, and fans. The controversy surrounding Rubiales comes at the same time that the Spanish women’s league is on strike in protest over lower pay for its players.

Other than his mother, who briefly went on a hunger strike at a chapel in southern Spain, Rubiales’s supporters in the public quickly turned against him. The men’s and women’s coaches of Spain’s teams were among them. Additionally, he was publicly requested to resign by his own federation.

Rubiales ultimately consented to leave after Spain’s state prosecutors hinted that he would face criminal charges and perhaps potential jail time if found guilty.

In his statement, Rubiales said that, among other things, hanging on and insisting on waiting would not benefit the federation or Spanish football since the authorities would prevent him from returning to his position.

The women’s world champions of Spain, along with scores of other players, refused to play again for their nation until there were changes in the federation’s management after Rubiales accused Hermoso of lying about what he said was a kiss she had agreed to. They did not return just because the controversial women’s team coach was fired.

rated No. 2 The Women’s Nations League is set to begin on September 22 when top-ranked Sweden hosts Spain. Sweden was defeated by Spain in the World Cup semifinals.

Hermoso, 33, had a lengthy career in Europe but is now playing for Mexican team Pachuca. She contributed to Barcelona’s victory in the 2021 Women’s Champions League and lost out to colleague Alexia Putellas in the Ballon d’Or voting that year.

Rubiales will also step down from his position as vice president of UEFA, where he earns a salary of 250,000 euros ($268,000) each year. He was nominated to this position in 2019. He had to first be chosen by European football federations to serve on UEFA’s executive committee. Even though FIFA initiated a disciplinary investigation against Rubiales 18 days ago, UEFA has not taken any action.

FAMILY WORLD CUP
The government of Spain had voiced fear that Rubiales might ultimately harm Spain’s joint bid to host the men’s World Cup in 2030. According to his statement, Rubiales, who had spearheaded the bid, seems to have ultimately consented while still holding onto his conviction that he was being treated unfairly.

“I take this decision after being assured that my exit would help contribute to the stability that will allow both Europe and Africa to stay united for their dream of 2030, which will permit the greatest sporting event in the world to go to our country,” he said. “I don’t want Spanish football to be hurt by this exaggerated campaign against me, and above all, I take this decision after being assured that my departure would help contribute to the stability that will allow both Europe and Africa to stay united for their dream of 2030.”

FIFA wants the outcome of the bid by the end of 2024, and the bid has a great chance of succeeding.

When the Spanish federation hosts the subsequent annual meeting of UEFA member federations in Madrid in February of next year, a vote to replace Rubiales on the UEFA governing committee may take place.

The 46-year-old SAUDI DEAL Rubiales is the president of Spain’s biggest players union and a former player. Since 2018, he has been the federation’s leader.

He hasn’t shied away from controversy since, but he built up internal support by increasing and distributing the federation’s earnings, demonstrating his skill as a dealmaker.

Because he was seen as being better than his predecessor, ngel Maria Villar, who held office for over three decades until being detained on suspicion of corruption, Rubiales was tolerated in part.

After taxes, Rubiales earned 339,000 euros ($365,000) in 2021 while overseeing a budget of 382 million euros ($412 million). The federation oversees the semi-pro, amateur, and men’s and women’s national football teams of Spain. The referees are also organized by it. Although it has some control over the organization, the government is unable to appoint or dismiss its executives.

The largest choice Rubiales made was to move the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia in return for $40 million year. Saudi Arabia is now a major lure for elite European players like Cristiano Ronaldo. The money was well received by the clubs and federation, but the action was condemned by human rights and women’s organizations due to how the dictatorship treated minorities and women. Authorities in Spain also examined the agreement, and a judge conducting an investigation is looking into the validity of the Super Cup contracts.

The dispute did not only draw attention away from Spain’s biggest women’s football triumph. It also tarnished Spain’s biggest football accomplishment since Rubiales became leadership — in both men’s and women’s teams — before ultimately causing his own demise.