Disgraced Spanish football figure Luis Rubiales has confirmed he will resign from his post as the president of the country’s football federation following his behaviour at the Women’s World Cup final
Luis Rubiales has stepped down from his role
Luis Rubiales has announced he will step down from his role as the president of the Spanish football federation after kissing Jenni Hermoso following the Women’s World Cup final.
The former Spain FA chief confirmed the news during a sit-down, tell-all interview with Talk TV’s Piers Morgan. His conduct sparked huge backlash among the footballing world and general public and has since made his role untenable.
Pressed for comment on whether he would resign by Morgan, Rubiales conceded: “I am going to - of course I cannot continue my work.” He later added that he was helped come to his decision by consulting his father and daughters.
“They know it’s not a question about me,” he added. “Some friends very close to me said ‘Luis, now you have to focus on your dignity and continue your life - if not, you are probably going to damage people you love and the sport you love’. In this situation now, this is the thing that I have to do.”
Spain’s women’s football team had made clear that they would refuse to play any further matches for their country until Rubiales had been removed from his post as president.
Hermoso has lodged an official complaint of sexual assault against Rubiales to the Spanish prosecutors office. It is now expected that a court will place him under criminal investigation in the next few days. It marks the first formal complaint from the player since the kiss last month.
The footballer has said the kiss left her feeling vulnerable and a victim of aggression. She has described it as “an impulsive, sexist act, out of place and without any type of consent on my part.”
As for Rubiales, his resignation marks a huge U-turn from his comments just over a fortnight ago when he claimed: “I will not resign. Did you really think a peck would bring me down?”
Luis Rubiales confirmed his resignation during an interview with Piers Morgan
In the aftermath of the kiss, he told the media: “The spontaneity and happiness of the historic moment led us to carry out a mutual and consensual act, a product of great enthusiasm. At no time was there any aggression, indeed, there was not even the slightest discomfort, but an overflowing joy in both of us.”
Rubiales has also stepped down from his post as a UEFA vice-president In a statement of his own, he added: “It is clear that I will not be able to return to my position. I do not want Spanish football to be harmed by this entirely disproportionate campaign.”
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