Spanish FA territorial presidents ‘request Luis Rubiales resigns with immediate effect’ following World Cup kiss-gate scandal
- Regional presidents of the Spanish FA have requested Luis Rubiales to resign
- Rubiales has been called to step down after kissing Jennifer hermoso on the lips
- Would Mohamed Salah ‘do the dirty’ on Liverpool by leaving? And what about Man United ‘diving’?: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off , Mail Sport’s new podcast
Regional presidents of the Spanish Football Association have requested Luis Rubiales resigns with immediate effect.
It comes after the Spanish FA president forcibly kissed Jennifer Hermoso following the Women’s World Cup final after the Spain women’s side defeated England.
The incident has sparked much backlash with members of the Spain men’s and women’s national side last week called for Rubiales to step-down from his position.
But he refused to resign in a staggering press conference and was subsequently suspended by FIFA’s disciplinary committee for 90 days from all footballing activity.
He has since claimed that he would ‘defend himself’ following the suspension, but many male and female players have now spoken out against the president, with Alexis Putellas and several other members of the women’s side speaking out publicly against the incident.
It also comes as FIFA are pushing for Rubiales to be banned for 15 years, the maximum length of suspension that can be given by their statutes.
Hermoso had also said that she ‘didn’t consent’ to the kiss stating: ‘I want to clarify, that at no time did I consent to the kiss. I don’t tolerate that my word is questioned, much less that words are invented that I haven’t said.’
Mail Sport reported today that prosecutors have opened a preliminary sex abuse investigation into the Spainshi FA president, with reports also suggesting that the Spanish FA had called for an emergency meeting on Monday as Rubiales faces a storm of criticism.
And this evening presidents from around the Spanish FA have asked for Rubiales to hand in his resignation letter.
A statement released by the Spanish FA (the RFEF) this evening read: ‘Once the meeting of the Commission of Presidents of Regional and Territorial Federations of the RFEF has finished, the following agreements are unanimously made known to the world of football and society:
‘After the latest events and the unacceptable behaviours that have seriously damaged the image of Spanish football, the presidents request Mr Luis Rubiales immediately present his resignation as president of the RFEF.
‘We warmly congratulate the women’s soccer team for their victory in the World Cup. We value the meaning and legacy of success for Spanish sport. We express our admiration and gratitude to an unrepeatable group of players and we extend our congratulations to all those who have built, over the years with determination, the growth of women’s football.
‘We will urge the corresponding bodies to carry out a deep and imminent organic restructuring in strategic positions of the Federation to give way to a new stage of management in Spanish football.
‘Once FIFA has suspended Mr Luis Rubiales, the Federation’s internal protocols have been activated as a result of the suspension.
‘In addition, we have urged President Pedro Rocha to immediately withdraw the last communication on behalf of the Federation with FIFA and UEFA that we have known today.
‘The RFEF maintains its commitment to continue implementing its investment, as well as equality policies for the development of women’s football.
‘Lastly, the Presidents’ Commission has given its unanimous support to Mr Pedro Rocha so that he may lead a new stage where dialogue and reconciliation with all football institutions is the line to follow.
‘We make ourselves available to the CSD and all the institutions involved to continue building together the candidacy for the 2030 World Cup.’
Last week Rubiales slammed his detractors as ‘idiots’ and amid rising pressure to quit re-asserted in a press conference stated four times that he would not be resigning from his position.
In a stunning speech on Friday he blamed ‘false feminism’ for a ‘social murder’ on him while also claiming that he would ‘fight to the end’.
I am not going to resign,’ he shouted four times during a speech in an emergency meeting of federation officials.
And his refusal to quit was condemned by many in the footballing community with Borja Iglasias resigning from the men’s national team after Rubiales refused to resign.
David de Gea and Iker Casillas also tore into the Spanish president calling his speech ’embarrasing’.
Spain’s World Cup winner Putellas tweeted: ‘This is unacceptable. It’s over. With you partner @jennihermoso’, while her team-mate Aitana Bonmati wrote: ‘There are limits that cannot be crossed and we cannot tolerate this. We are with you partner.’
More to follow…
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