Luis Rubiales is fighting to remain the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) despite increasing pressure to resign from various sporting bodies and the government following his behaviour after the Women’s World Cup final earlier this month.
Rubiales, 46, finally lost the RFEF’s support this week after FIFA provisionally suspended him from all football activity for 90 days. That left a committee of the federation’s regional presidents in charge, and on Monday, they called for him to quit.
Criminal proceedings are also underway after his unsolicited kiss of Spain national team star Jenni Hermoso. Rubiales says there was consent, but Hermoso refutes that claim and says she felt “the victim of assault.” Rubiales has also been condemned for other actions during the celebrations after Spain beat England in Sydney, including grabbing his crotch, kissing other players and carrying another over his shoulder, but the incident with Hermoso is the subject of the legal case.
Rubiales’ five years in the top job at the RFEF have been marked by controversial incidents and allegations against him, from sacking the coach of the men’s national team, Julen Lopetegui, after one month in the role through to a high-profile dispute with the women’s team…
