Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales refuses to resign after player kiss uproar

MADRID – Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales said on Friday he would not step down in the face of pressure from politicians, players, unions and Fifa for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s Women’s World Cup win.

Speaking at an RFEF emergency assembly, he complained that “false feminists” were “trying to kill me” and described the kiss as a peck that was “free, mutual and consensual”.

“Is a consensual peck going to take me out of here? I won’t resign. I will fight until the end,” Rubiales said, drawing applause from the predominantly male audience.

Condemnation has built throughout the week of the incident which occurred while the players were being handed their medals after they beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final last Sunday.

As players filed past, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the head and planted a kiss on her mouth. He also celebrated the victory by grabbing his genitals.

It culminated with Fifa opening disciplinary procedures against him on Thursday after Hermoso said in a statement on Wednesday that her union was working to defend her interests and that such acts should “never go unpunished”.

Rubiales initially reacted defiantly to the backlash, describing his critics as “idiots”. But he swiftly backtracked, posting an apology video recorded while flying back from Sydney.

As it became apparent that his apology had not gained traction – with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez describing it as “not enough” – regional leaders of the RFEF held a crisis meeting in Madrid on Thursday to discuss Rubiales’ future and options for a potential successor, a source told Reuters.

“The kiss, the peck. I want to give my explanation,” Rubiales added.

“Of course, whoever sees the video, in front of millions of people, on television, in front of my family, in front of my daughters, (but) the desire I had with that kiss is the same as the one I would give to one of my daughters. Therefore, there is no desire as the media sells it. It was consensual.”

He also said he had been “hunted” since taking the job in 2018.

“When I make a mistake it hurts me and I ask for forgiveness without softening it, but I do not deserve this hunt that I have been suffering for five years, every day for five years,” he said.

“I’m going to keep fighting like my parents taught me, like my coaches, my teammates.”

His refusal to resign and fiery speech prompted a rapid reaction from politicians.

“What we have seen today at the federation assembly is unacceptable,” wrote Second Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz on social network X.

“The government must act and take urgent measures – impunity for macho actions is over. Rubiales cannot continue in office.”

Spain’s High Council of Sport said earlier in the week it would take measures against Rubiales if the football federation failed to do so.

Rubiales’ mandate since he was elected in 2018 was full of controversies, including the shocking decision to sack Spain manager Julen Lopetegui two days before their opening 2018 World Cup match. REUTERS, AFP