Luis Rubiales’ mother has locked herself in a church and is going on a hunger strike in order to end the “inhumane witch-hunt” on her son as the Spanish Football Federation (Rfef) held an emergency meeting today.
Rubiales was suspended by Fifa for kissing Women’s World Cup winner, Jenni Hermoso, on the lips in an act the footballer says she did not consent to. Fifa banned Rubiales from all football-related activity for 90 days over his conduct and have launched an investigation into his behaviour, while Spanish police are now investigating the federation president for alleged sexual assault.
Following his refusal to resign, the Spanish women’s national team signed a letter stating their intent not to play for the country until Rubiales is removed from his role and the coaching staff – excepting manager Jorge Vilda – have all walked out.
And in bizarre new developments, the Spanish FA today requested that Uefa excludes their national and club teams from all European competitions because of Spanish government intervention in the crisis. It is a request which Uefa has denied.
Follow all the latest updates from the Luis Rubiales crisis:
Luis Rubiales latest updates LIVE
Spanish prosecutors open prelimiary enquiries into Luis Rubiales sexual assault case
Rfef requests Uefa suspends Spanish teams from European competitions
Rubiales’ mother on hunger strike after locking herself inside a church
Spain’s women’s national team have refused to play until he is removed
Fifa has suspended Rubiales and government has initiated legal proceedings
Spanish FA holds emergency meeting on Rubiales crisis this afternoon
Luis Rubiales news – Latest developments
14:54 , Mike Jones
Luis Rubiales’ mother locked herself in the Divina Pastora church just outside Malaga and started an “indefinite, day and night” hunger strike until “justice is served” after claiming her son was the victimn of a “inhumane witch-hunt”.
Rubiales’ cousin Vanesa Ruiz Bejar, spoke outside the church, saying: “There’s a campaign of harassment occurring that is very unfair. Luis’ mum who is a very religious person has sought refuge in God and started a hunger strike. We are all suffering a lot because of what’s happened to Luis which doesn’t seem at all fair to us.”
The Spanish Football Federation (Rfef) are holding an “extraordinary and urgent” meeting at 3pm (BST) to determine the next steps in regards to Rubiales but it is unclear whether anything will come from it after the federation backed Luis Rubiales’ defence last week.
The Rfef have also contacted Uefa asking them to suspend their own organisation due to third party involvement from the Spanish government who are seeking measures to remove Rubiales as president. The request would see Spanish football teams such as Real Madrid and Barcelona unable to feature in Uefa competition.
Uefa have rejected the request.
Spanish prosecutors open pre-trial enquiries and investigate whether Rubiales can be found guilty of sexual assault.
The mask has slipped – Luis Rubiales is the real face of football
17:30 , Mike Jones
“Women’s football was soaring. Women felt represented. Seen. Celebrated. Supported.
“Until, that is, Spanish midfielder Jennifer Hermoso reported how the head of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, had grabbed her head and kissed her on the lips without consent in front of thousands of people.
“Despite video footage showing exactly what happened, the federation responded by calling her a liar and threatening her with a lawsuit.
“Rubiales issued a fierce denial, blaming “false feminism” and refusing to resign. His mother, meanwhile, has reportedly locked herself inside a church on hunger strike to protest her son’s “inhumane treatment”.”
Jessica Taylor shares her thoughts on the latest development in Luis Rubiales’ convtroversial week:
Opinion: The mask has slipped – Luis Rubiales is the real face of football
Rubiales facing two-pronged attack from Fifa and Spanish government
17:20 , Mike Jones
Colin Miller, European football writer at the Daily Mirror, spoke the Sky News earlier to shed more light on the situation facing Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales saying he is facing a “two-pronged attack” on his position.
The first comes from Fifa which has temporarily suspended him and the second from Spanish government, which wants him to be removed from his position.
Miller explained this situation could yield some ‘interesting’ results from this afternoon’s urgent meeting of the Spanish FA. As interim president, Pedro Rocha has the power to call for the removal of the men’s national team coach Luis de la Fuente and women’s coach Jorge Vilda – both of whom applauded Rubiales when he refused to quit.
The Spanish FA has had a “dreadful PR disaster” over the past few days over the “defensive nature of their statements”, added Miller which included calling Jenni Hermoso a liar.
Miller said: “This is going to be very interesting to see if they’ve taken hold of that and are thinking: ‘We’re going to change our approach now, we’re going to accept we have made mistakes’.”
Rubiales’ behaviour after World Cup shows ‘worst of Spanish society’, says deputy prime minister
17:10 , Mike Jones
Spain’s deputy prime minister has strongly condemned the behaviour of FA president Luis Rubiales after he was accused of grabbing and kissed Women’s World Cup player Jenni Hermoso on the lips.
Yolanda Diaz said on Monday 28 August that male chauvinism was “systemic” in Spain and had been shown in its worst form when Mr Rubiales on Friday refused to resign as president of Spain’s soccer federation.
Rubiales’ behaviour after World Cup shows ‘worst of Spanish society’
Spain’s deputy prime minister condemns Rubiales’ behaviour after World Cup final
17:00 , Mike Jones
Yolanda Diaz says she “deplores the fact” that the government didn’t act sooner in response to Luis Rubiales kissing Jenni Hermoso.
“The government is acting very positively but I think it’s deplorable that it was Fifa that brought in the sanction and not us,” she told reporters at a news briefing.
She said the government has presented two complaints to have Rubiales suspended describing his actions as “the worst of Spanish society.”
“Male chauvinism is structural in this country,” she added before taking aim at Rubiales and his associates for “making fun of somebody they should have been protecting”.
“Instead of protecting her they actually made her suffer,” she added, “We have seen the worst of structural machismo in the behaviour of Mr Rubiales.”
Spain coaching team quits over Luis Rubiales row – but manager backs under-fire president
16:52 , Mike Jones
The coaching staff of Spain’s women’s team have resigned amid the ongoing row with Luis Rubiales – with the exception of manager Jorge Vilda.
Rubiales, president of the Spanish FA, has come under fire since kissing Spanish player Jenni Hermoso in the aftermath of the team’s World Cup triumph over England, and he has now been suspended by Fifa after refusing to step down.
The latest development in the saga has seen Spain’s coaching team quit, except for controversial manager Vilda. Assistant managers Montse Tome, Javier Lerga and Eugenio Gonzalo Martin have resigned, as have physio Blanca Romero Moraleda and goalkeeping coach Carlos Sanchez.
Spain coaching team quits over Luis Rubiales row – but manager backs president
One week after sullying the Women’s World Cup, Luis Rubiales is now a Spanish football outcast
16:42 , Mike Jones
One week after the president of the Spanish soccer federation kissed a player during the Women’s World Cup awards ceremony, his reputation is in tatters and he’s out of his job.
Luis Rubiales, whose leadership of Spanish soccer had already been marked by successes tinged with scandal, wrecked his career by offending millions worldwide with his conduct at the final in Sydney, Australia, when he also grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture.
“Rubiales cannot run Spanish soccer again,” Spanish minister María Jesús Montero said Sunday, a day after he was provisionally suspended by FIFA for 90 days.
“We had enough of him when he marred the great triumph of women’s soccer with his intolerable attitude.”
One week after sullying the Women’s World Cup, Luis Rubiales is now a Spanish soccer outcast
Spanish football’s ‘MeToo moment’ is a mirror for the entire game
16:32 , Mike Jones
Right up until the moment that Luis Rubiales took the microphone at the Spanish federation on Friday afternoon, senior figures in Uefa were adamant he would resign. The expectation had even stopped some prominent football officials publicly speaking out.
What followed, even for a sport like this, left many involved “speechless”. It says more than any statement, mind, that Rubiales’s “jaw-dropping political speech” – to use the words of one shocked source – probably wasn’t the most consequential moment of the day. All of this will eventually lead to real action, way beyond words or Spanish football.
In terms of the most immediate effect, Fifa has now suspended Rubiales for 90 days and ordered him not to contact the player he kissed on the lips after the World Cup final, Jenni Hermoso.
Four official complaints against Rubiales are now being investigated and they could ultimately see him banned from sport for anything between two to 15 years.
Spanish football’s ‘MeToo moment’ is a mirror for the entire game
Uefa rejects Spanish expulsion plea as Luis Rubiales crisis takes bizarre new twist
16:20 , Mike Jones
Uefa will take no action on an astonishing request by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to be expelled – and thus have its clubs including Real Madrid and Barcelona kicked out of European competitions like the Champions League – over what the RFEF claims is government interference on the Luis Rubiales crisis, as the federation president now faces an investigation from the Spanish Prosecutors Office for sexual assault.
In other developments of a story that even Uefa officials were describing as “absurd” and “stranger by the moment”, Rubiales’ mother Angeles Bejar locked herself in a church to go on hunger strike, with police and doctors eventually intervening. Such details have stunned even the most experienced people in football, but it is the request to the European body that is being seen as the most significant, given it sums up how surreal the story has become.
With Rubiales facing a series of official complaints and a government process that could yet see him banned from sport in Spain for two to 15 years – to go with his current 90-day suspension from Fifa – the federation sent a request to Uefa to be expelled for breaking Uefa’s own statutes on state interference.
Uefa rejects Spanish expulsion plea as Luis Rubiales crisis takes bizarre new twist
Hermoso has 15 days to formalise complaint against Rubiales
16:10 , Mike Jones
Prosecutors from Spain’s top criminal court announced today they believe the facts in the case against Luis Rubiales may constitute an offence of sexual harassment.
The prosecutors office said: “It was agreed to approach Jenni Hermoso so as to inform her of her rights as a possible victim of the offence of sexual harassment… and to offer her the opportunity should she wish within the next 15 days to file a complaint with the Prosecutors Office of the Spanish High Court.”
It said it opened pretrial enquiries because of “public statements made by Jenni Hermoso that the sexual act she experienced and was carried out by Mr Rubiales was non-consensual”.
Hermoso released a statement on Friday to explain her side of the incident and now has 15 days to formalise the complaint with the prosecutors office.
When will the findings of Rfef’s emergency meeting come out
16:02 , Mike Jones
The Spanish Football Federation called an “extraordinary and urgent” meeting into the situation with Luis Rubiales yesterday.
Rubiales was widely expected to resign at a seperate meeting on Friday but instead made a bizarre and defiant speech, claiming he was the victim of a witch-hunt and insisted the kiss with Jenni Hermoso was consensual.
The federation’s interim president Pedro Rocha has called today’s meeting in Madrid “to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself” and look at “the decisions or actions to be taken.”
An internal investigation is also under way after the federation’s sexual violence protocol was activated.
Maria Dolores Martinez Madrona, the protocol’s protection delegate who is conducting the investigation, said: “we demand the utmost respect for the right to privacy and dignity of every person involved”.
That meeting should be taking place this afternoon but it is unclear whether any of the discussions will be made public.
Mother of beleaguered Spanish football federation chief starts hunger strike in church to defend him
15:54 , Mike Jones
The mother of the Spanish soccer federation president has started a hunger strike in a church in southern Spain in defense of her son, who is under fire for kissing a player during the recent Women’s World Cup awards ceremony.
Ángeles Béjar, mother of suspended federation president Luis Rubiales, told the state news agency EFE she would remain on hunger strike “night and day” until a solution is found to “the bloody and inhumane hounding” of her son.
Speaking outside the church in the southern town of Motril, Rubiales’ cousin, Vanessa Ruiz, joined his mother in calling on the player, Jenni Hermoso, to “tell the truth.” She said the family was suffering greatly and she described Rubiales as “a beautiful person.”
Mother of beleaguered Spanish football federation chief starts hunger strike in church to defend him
Spanish prosecutors open pre-trial enquiries into Luis Rubiales
15:48 , Mike Jones
Spanish prosecutors at the top criminal court in the country have opened a preliminary investigation into Luis Rubiales’ actions to determine whether his kiss on Jenni Hermoso after the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney constitutes a crime of sexual assault.
The investigation is looking into whether Rubiales, the president of the country’s football federation, could be charged with committing an act of sexual aggression on Hermoso.
The prosecutors office had received six complaints over Rubiales’ conduct but had waited for the player to make an official complaint.
That came in the form of a statement Hermoso released Friday saying that she felt ‘vulnerable’ and at no point ‘consented to the kiss’ with Rubiales.
Opposition has steadily grown in response to Rubiales’ conduct and his strident defence of it. The Rfef has found itself under increasing pressure to take action with the federation currently in an emergency meeting to discuss the issue.
Luis Rubiales’ mother locks herself in church and goes on hunger strike over ‘inhuman’ treatment
15:46 , Mike Jones
The mother of Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales is on hunger strike over the “inhuman” treatment of her son, according to reports in Spain.
Rubiales was provisionally suspended by Fifa on Saturday pending an investigation into his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney on 20 August.
The 46-year-old grabbed his crotch in the stadium’s VIP area in celebration of Spain’s win over England, when he was stood metres away from Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter.
He then kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy and medals presentation, something she says was done without her consent.
Luis Rubiales’ mother locks herself in church and goes on hunger strike
Luis Rubiales’ mother goes on hunger strike after locking herself inside a church
15:38 , Mike Jones
The latest development in this story concerns Luis Rubiales’ mother who has reportedly locked herself in a church and is going on a hunger strike in order to stop the ‘inhumane’ treatment of her son according to the Daily Mail.
Angeles Bejar has demanded an end to the ‘inhumane witch-hunt’ on Rubiales after he kissed Spanish midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips following their Women’s World Cup triumph.
Bejar has locked herself in the Divina Pastora church and started an ‘indefinite, day and night’ hunger strike until ‘justice is served.’
As reported by Marca, Luis Rubiales’ cousin Vanesa Ruiz Bejar, spoke on behalf of the family, saying: “My name is Vanesa Ruiz Bejar and I’m Luis Rubiales’ cousin. There’s a campaign of harassment occurring that is very unfair. Luis’ mum who is a very religious person has sought refuge in God and started a hunger strike.
“She doesn’t want to come out of the church. We are all suffering a lot because of what’s happened to Luis which doesn’t seem at all fair to us.
“He’s been condemned already without being tried. It’s not normal. We won’t to be left alone. The facts speak for them, there are videos, there are audio recordings.”
About Angeles Bejar she added: “She’s an elderly lady whose health is very delicate and she’s suffering a lot. She’s crying all time and is not able to sleep and is not eating.
“The person that spends five minutes with Luis knows he’s a really good person with a big heart. He’s a very noble person.”
Bejar also spoke directly to Jenni Hermoso saying: “Jenni, say the truth. Why has she changed her version three times? We have suffered a lot, we have had to leave our homes because of the harassment we’re suffering.
“We won’t to be left alone and see justice done and we want this woman to tell the truth. Jenni, ‘tell the truth!”
Why is the likely outcome of Rfef’s emergency meeting?
15:30 , Mike Jones
It’s not clear.
The meeting is not being shown live so there’ll be a wait to hear if any action is being taken against Luis Rubiales. An internal investigation is also under way after the federation’s sexual violence protocol was activated yesterday.
In what marked the first forceful action against Rubiales, the Spanish FA president was on provisionally suspended for 90 days by Fifa from “all football-related activities at national and international level” on Saturday.
He has also been ordered not to contact or to attempt to contact Jenni Hermoso or her family for the duration of his suspension.
Spanish minister and women’s football union chief hold press conference
15:22 , Mike Jones
The acting second deputy prime minister of Spain, and its labour minister, Yolanda Diaz, and Amanda Guiterrez, president of the women’s football union Futpro held a joint news conference this afternoon after meeting to discuss the World Cup kiss scandal
Here’s what they had to say:
Diaz says Luis Rubiales acted with “sexual aggression” and that his actions have “been spread throughout the world” but are not “representative of our country”,
“Spanish society is a profoundly feminist and avant-garde,” she added.
“It’s certainly very strange that the whole of Spain should be witnessing this particular scene.”
Spanish minister and women’s football union chief hold press conference
15:15 , Mike Jones
The acting second deputy prime minister of Spain, and its labour minister, Yolanda Diaz, and Amanda Guiterrez, president of the women’s football union Futpro held a joint news conference this afternoon after meeting to discuss the World Cup kiss scandal
Here’s what they had to say:
Yolanda Diaz says she “deplores the fact” that the government didn’t act sooner in response to Luis Rubiales kissing Jenni Hermoso.
“The government is acting very positively but I think it’s deplorable that it was Fifa that brought in the sanction and not us,” she told reporters at a news briefing.
She said the government has presented two complaints to have Rubiales suspended describing his actions as “the worst of Spanish society.”
“Male chauvinism is structural in this country,” she added before taking aim at Rubiales and his associates for “making fun of somebody they should have been protecting”.
“Instead of protecting her they actually made her suffer,” she added, “We have seen the worst of structural machismo in the behaviour of Mr Rubiales.”
Spanish minister and women’s football union chief hold press conference
15:09 , Mike Jones
The acting second deputy prime minister of Spain, and its labour minister, Yolanda Diaz, and Amanda Guiterrez, president of the women’s football union Futpro held a joint news conference this afternoon after meeting to discuss the World Cup kiss scandal
Here’s what they had to say:
Amanda Guiterrez, said the issue does not solely lie with Luis Rubiales but “is a social problem of our country in general”
“We want to focus on the situation which women footballers are in every single day.” she added,
“We are trying not to talk about things in terms of individuals or actual ad hominem terms but also a more general systemic approach to the conditions which have to be improved and discuss the problems which we’ve had for so many years now.”
Spanish minister and women’s football union chief hold press conference
15:02 , Mike Jones
The acting second deputy prime minister of Spain, and its labour minister, Yolanda Diaz, and Amanda Guiterrez, president of the women’s football union Futpro held a joint news conference this afternoon after meeting to discuss the World Cup kiss scandal
Here’s what they had to say:
Yolanda Diaz says “progress” has been made since the “deplorable events” at the Women’s World Cup.
“We have really made progress in terms of thinking about measures in employment… particularly in regards to working conditions,” she said.
“This office watched what happened last week and made sure there was a proper information campaign about the legal aspects involved.”
Punishing the World Cup kiss sends an important message about sexism in football
14:55 , Mike Jones
Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to [email protected]
“Although belated, the overdue action of Fifa in suspending Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales from all football-related activity over his unbecoming conduct at the conclusion of the Women’s World Cup final is absolutely justified and a welcome step.
“Rubiales’s claim that the kiss planted on Spain’s World Cup winning team’s Jenni Hermoso was “spontaneous” could hold some water given the women team’s spectacular 2-1 win over Sweden.
“However, claiming that it was “mutual, euphoric and consensual” is beyond the pale.
“I am glad that he is now subject to a full investigation by Fifa, which sends an important message to all that sexism in football and even beyond is a big “NO” and should be abhorred in any form – be it in any sport or in the regular walk of life across the world.”
Atul M Karnik New York
Letters: Punishing the World Cup kiss sends an important message about sexism
The mask has slipped – Luis Rubiales is the real face of football
14:48 , Mike Jones
“Women’s football was soaring. Women felt represented. Seen. Celebrated. Supported.
“Until, that is, Spanish midfielder Jennifer Hermoso reported how the head of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, had grabbed her head and kissed her on the lips without consent in front of thousands of people.
“Despite video footage showing exactly what happened, the federation responded by calling her a liar and threatening her with a lawsuit.
“Rubiales issued a fierce denial, blaming “false feminism” and refusing to resign. His mother, meanwhile, has reportedly locked herself inside a church on hunger strike to protest her son’s “inhumane treatment”.”
Jessica Taylor shares her thoughts on the latest development in Luis Rubiales’ convtroversial week:
Opinion: The mask has slipped – Luis Rubiales is the real face of football
“Extraordinary and urgent” meeting taking place at 3pm
14:42 , Mike Jones
The “extraordinary and urgent” meeting of the Spanish FA is set to take place at 3pm BST but it is unclear whether anything will come out of it after the federation backed Luis Rubiales’ defence last week.
They could take the time to finalise Rubiales’ exit from the federation but if reports that they have asked Uefa to investigate the Spanish government’s involvement in the Rfef are true then the Spanish FA seem more determined to blow up the foundations of Spanish football than holding Rubiales to account.
Should Uefa grant their request it would ban Spanish football from Uefa competitions meaning teams from Spain would not be able to compete in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference Leagues among others.
Luis Rubiales’ mother on hunger strike over ‘inhuman’ treatment of Spanish FA president
14:40 , Mike Jones
The mother of Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales is on hunger strike over the “inhuman” treatment of her son, according to reports in Spain.
Rubiales was provisionally suspended by FIFA on Saturday pending an investigation into his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney on August 20.
The 46-year-old grabbed his crotch in the stadium’s VIP area in celebration of Spain’s win over England, when he was stood metres away from Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter.
Luis Rubiales’ mother on hunger strike over ‘inhuman’ treatment of son
One week after sullying the Women’s World Cup, Luis Rubiales is now a Spanish soccer outcast
14:32 , Mike Jones
One week after the president of the Spanish soccer federation kissed a player during the Women’s World Cup awards ceremony, his reputation is in tatters and he’s out of his job.
Luis Rubiales, whose leadership of Spanish soccer had already been marked by successes tinged with scandal, wrecked his career by offending millions worldwide with his conduct at the final in Sydney, Australia, when he also grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture.
“Rubiales cannot run Spanish soccer again,” Spanish minister María Jesús Montero said Sunday, a day after he was provisionally suspended by Fifa for 90 days.
“We had enough of him when he marred the great triumph of women’s soccer with his intolerable attitude.”
One week after sullying the Women’s World Cup, Luis Rubiales is now a Spanish soccer outcast
Spanish FA launches ‘sexual violence protocol’ against Luis Rubiales ahead of urgent meeting
14:24 , Mike Jones
Spain’s football federation will meet urgently on Monday as its president, Luis Rubiales, faces a Fifa suspension and a storm of criticism over allegations he gave a player an unwanted kiss on the lips following Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup.
In addition, the Spanish federation has launched an internal investigation through its sexual violence protocol, which comes into action after a complaint is submitted.
Rubiales has steadfastly refused to resign over the incident involving player Jenni Hermoso last Sunday in Sydney, saying the kiss was consensual. Players and a string of coaches on the women’s squad are demanding his resignation, and the government also wants him to step down.
Spanish FA launch ‘sexual violence protocol’ against Rubiales ahead of urgent meeting
Rfef want Uefa to investigate the Spanish government
14:16 , Mike Jones
Luis Rubiales is a vice-president of Uefa who are yet to comment on the developing situation.
However, the European football governing body is believed to have been in contact with Fifa over what disciplinary actions to take against Rubiales but as the inciting incident occured at the Women’s World Cup – a Fifa competition – it was agreed that Fifa would take charge of the situation.
They have already banned Rubiales from football related activities for three months. Given this arrangement Uefa feel it should not comment on any disciplinary matters taken by Fifa hence their ongoing silence.
Added to this is the emerging story that the Spanish Football Federation have approached Uefa with a request to suspend their own organisation.
Andreu Camps, the Secretary General of the Rfef, has apparently reported the Spanish government to the Uefa over alleged interference and want an investigation into the government’s inquest of Rubiales.
It seems unlikely that Uefa will grant their request.
Spanish football’s ‘MeToo moment’ is a mirror for the entire game
14:08 , Mike Jones
Right up until the moment that Luis Rubiales took the microphone at the Spanish federation on Friday afternoon, senior figures in Uefa were adamant he would resign. The expectation had even stopped some prominent football officials publicly speaking out.
What followed, even for a sport like this, left many involved “speechless”. It says more than any statement, mind, that Rubiales’s “jaw-dropping political speech” – to use the words of one shocked source – probably wasn’t the most consequential moment of the day. All of this will eventually lead to real action, way beyond words or Spanish football.
In terms of the most immediate effect, Fifa has now suspended Rubiales for 90 days and ordered him not to contact the player he kissed on the lips after the World Cup final, Jenni Hermoso.
Spanish football’s ‘MeToo moment’ is a mirror for the entire game
‘Extraordinary and urgent’ meeting to take place this afternoon
14:04 , Mike Jones
The Spanish Football Federation called an “extraordinary and urgent” meeting into the situation with Luis Rubiales yesterday.
Rubiales was widely expected to resign at a seperate meeting on Friday but instead made a bizarre and defiant speech, claiming he was the victim of a witch-hunt and insisted the kiss with Jenni Hermoso was consensual.
The federation’s interim president Pedro Rocha has called today’s meeting in Madrid “to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself” and look at “the decisions or actions to be taken.”
An internal investigation is also under way after the federation’s sexual violence protocol was activated.
Maria Dolores Martinez Madrona, the protocol’s protection delegate who is conducting the investigation, said: “we demand the utmost respect for the right to privacy and dignity of every person involved”.
Fifa suspends Luis Rubiales and coaching staff walk out over Women’s World Cup kiss row
13:59 , Mike Jones
Fifa has suspended Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales over his conduct and the women’s national team’s coaching staff have walked out as he still refused to resign over the deepening World Cup kiss row.
Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activity for 90 days and is not allowed to contact Spanish midfielder Jenni Hermoso or those close to her.
He is currently the subject of a Fifa investigation into his behaviour after the match, when he kissed forward Hermoso on the lips and was also filmed grabbing his crotch in an aggressive celebration at the full-time whistle. He has come under increasing pressure from across sport and politics but on Friday refused to resign in a chaotic press conference.
Fifa suspends Luis Rubiales and coaching staff walk out over World Cup kiss row
Spain coaching team quits over Luis Rubiales row – but manager backs under-fire president
13:51 , Mike Jones
The coaching staff of Spain’s women’s team have resigned amid the ongoing row with Luis Rubiales – with the exception of manager Jorge Vilda.
Rubiales, president of the Spanish FA, has come under fire since kissing Spanish player Jenni Hermoso in the aftermath of the team’s World Cup triumph over England, and he has now been suspended by Fifa after refusing to step down.
The latest development in the saga has seen Spain’s coaching team quit, except for controversial manager Vilda. Assistant managers Montse Tome, Javier Lerga and Eugenio Gonzalo Martin have resigned, as have physio Blanca Romero Moraleda and goalkeeping coach Carlos Sanchez.
Spain coaching team quits over Luis Rubiales row – but manager backs president
It’s tragic this World Cup will only be remembered for one thing
13:43 , Mike Jones
“Spontaneous, mutual and consensual”. That’s how Spanish football federation boss Luis Rubiales has described that kiss he planted on Jenni Hermoso’s mouth last weekend.
“Even after a statement from Hermoso and her union Futpro calling for measures against Rubiales, he flat-out refused to acknowledge his error.
“During a chaotic press conference this morning, Rubiales also found himself having to apologise to the entire Spanish royal family, who were sitting near him in the presidential box as he felt a similarly spontaneous – and equally inexplicable – urge to grab his own crotch in celebration of his country winning the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
“In the face of mounting pressure to step down from his role, Rubiales shouted at reporters, “I am not going to resign” a total of four times. He went on to describe a “witch hunt” of “false feminism”, taking a very defensive, unapologetic position on the incident.”
Gemma Abbott gives her take on the man and the incident which has overshadowed Spain’s historic victory in the Women’s World Cup final:
Opinion: It’s tragic this World Cup will only be remembered for one thing
Spanish FA threatens legal action over Jenni Hermoso ‘lies’ as World Cup kiss row deepens
13:36 , Mike Jones
Spain’s football federation has vowed to take legal action over “lies” as the row over its president kissing player Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup final deepened.
On Friday the president, Luis Rubiales, refused to quit after a storm of criticism, hitting out at “false feminism” and shouting “I am not resigning” in a chaotic press conference.
In response, the Spanish women’s team released a joint statement saying the 23 World Cup-winning players – and 34 more – would not play again until leadership of the federation was changed. In the statement, Hermoso, who is Spain’s leading goalscorer, said:
“I want to clarify that, as was seen in the images, at no time did I consent to the kiss he gave me. I do not tolerate my word being questioned and much less the invention of words I have not said.”
Spanish FA threatens legal action over Jenni Hermoso ‘lies’ in World Cup kiss row
‘We don’t deserve to be part of a manipulative culture’: Jenni Hermoso slams Spanish football federation
13:29 , Mike Jones
Jenni Hermoso has released a statement to back up the announcement that the Spanish Women’s football team will not play for their country until Spain’s Football Federation (Rfef) president, Luis Rubiales, is removed from his position.
Hermoso has been drawn into the limelight after Rubiales grabbed her and planted a kiss on her lips at the medal ceremony of the Women’s World Cup; an action Hermoso says was done without her consent.
On Friday morning Rubiales also refused to resign from his post despite calls for him to do so and he lambasted a “false feminism” witchhunt saying that he would fight to clear his name in court.
His actions have forced the Spanish government to initate legal proceedings to remove him from his role while senior figures in the Royal Spanish Football Federation have offered resignations of their own.
Jenni Hermoso slams Spanish football federation after Luis Rubiales incident
Spain’s World Cup winners refuse to play until Luis Rubiales is removed
13:21 , Mike Jones
The Spanish women’s team have released a joint statement on Friday saying they will not play until the federation leadership is changed, mere hours after president of the Spanish FA, Luis Rubiales, comfirmed his intention to remain at the head of Spain’s football federation.
Rubiales has faced increasingly fierce criticism after he grabbed fooballber Jenni Hermoso by the head and kissed on her lips during the Women’s World Cup final trophy presentation on Sunday. Video later emerged of Rubiales grabbing his crotch in celebration in close proximity to the Queen of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter.
Speaking to media on Friday morning Rubiales doubled down on his position saying that he would fight to clear his name in court if necessary and refused to resign.
Spain’s World Cup winners refuse to play until Luis Rubiales is removed
Government will push to suspend Luis Rubiales in ‘Me Too of Spanish football’
13:14 , Mike Jones
The Spanish government will push for the suspension of under-fire national football federation president Luis Rubiales after he refused to resign.
Victor Francos, head of the state-run National Sports Council, said the government wants this to be “the ‘Me Too’ of Spanish football” in reference to the movement seeking to highlight and prevent sexual violence towards women.
Rubiales has been widely criticised for kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the medal and trophy presentation following Spain’s World Cup victory, something she later said on social media she “didn’t like”.
Government will push to suspend Luis Rubiales in ‘Me Too of Spanish football’
Spanish government starts legal proceedings to sack Luis Rubiales
13:07 , Mike Jones
Spain’s government has started the legal proceedings seeking to suspend soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales for kissing World Cup star Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s World Cup victory, an official said on Friday.
Rubiales refused to quit on Friday in a bizarre press conference, fuelling anger among players and government ministers who decried his actions as unacceptable macho behaviour.
Earlier on Friday, Rubiales defended the kiss as a “peck” and reiterated his position that it was “consensual” before repeating loudly, “I am not going to resign,” while some in the audience applauded, including both Spain national team managers.
Spanish government starts legal proceedings to sack Luis Rubiales
President of Spain’s women’s football committee resigns over Luis Rubiales controversy
13:00 , Mike Jones
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (Rfef) was handed a resignation on Friday but not the one they were expecting. It was widely expected that Luis Rubiales, the Spanish FA president, would announce his resignation in a press conference earlier this morning after questions into his conduct reached a fever pitch.
Speaking after the press conference the President of Spain’s Women’s football committee, Rafael del Amo, announced that he had handed in his own resignation due to Rubiales remaining in his post.
Spain’s women’s football committee president resigns over Luis Rubiales controversy
Spain striker boycotts national team in protest against FA president Luis Rubiales
12:53 , Mike Jones
A Spanish striker is boycotting the national team in protest against FA president Luis Rubiales.
Rubiales has faced growing calls from across sport and politics to resign from his post running Spanish football after his behaviour at the Women’s World Cup final, where he grabbed his crotch in an aggressive celebration and forcefully kissed one of the players, Jenni Hermoso, on the lips.
He was expected to step down in a press conference on Friday morning but instead declared he would not resign, blamed Hermoso for the kiss and hit out at “false feminism”.
Borja Iglesias, 30, who plays for Real Betis and has made two appearances for the Spanish national team, declared on social media that he would no longer put himself forwards for selection until “this type of act does not go unpunished”.
Spain striker boycotts national team in protest against FA president Luis Rubiales
‘This is unacceptable’: Alexia Putellas and Iker Casillas respond to Luis Rubiales’ refusal to resign
12:46 , Mike Jones
World Cup winner Alexia Putellas says the current situation in Spanish football is “unacceptable” after Luis Rubiales refused to resign as FA president amid strong criticism of his behaviour at the Women’s World Cup final.
Barcelona star Putellas, posted on X: “This is unacceptable. It’s over. With you my team-mate @Jennihermoso.”
Yolanda Diaz, Spain’s second deputy prime minister, said the government “must act and take urgent measures”, adding: “Impunity for macho actions is over. Rubiales cannot continue in office.”
World players’ union Fifpro said it had written to Uefa urging it to open disciplinary proceedings. Their statement concluded:
“Any lack of action by authorities in addressing the conduct of Mr Rubiales would send an entirely unacceptable and damaging message to the football industry and wider society.”
Iker Casillas, who captained Spain’s men to World Cup victory in 2010, renewed the criticism of the Rfef president by tweeting:
“I’m ashamed for you…
“We should have spent these 5 days talking about our girls! Of the joy they gave us all! To boast of a title that we did not have in women’s football, but…”
Spanish FA president kissing midfielder ‘ruined’ World Cup final, says Lioness Jess Carter
12:40 , Mike Jones
The reaction to Luis Rubiales’ refusal to resign was forceful and immediate. England Lioness Jess Carter gave an interview with ITV saying Ruubiales “ruined” Spain’s victory celebrations.
She then described Rubiales’ decision to kiss Jenny Hermoso as “unacceptable” and questioned if a similar incident would occur in the men’s game.
“For me, Spain have just achieved an incredible thing and it’s almost been tarnished a little bit by one person’s actions.” Carter said,
“That moment ruined what should have been only a massive celebration for Spain and for Jenni Hermoso.”
Spanish FA chief blames player for World Cup kiss and shouts ‘I am not resigning!’ in chaotic press conference
12:33 , Mike Jones
Luis Rubiales refused to resign from his role as president of the Spanish FA and blamed World Cup star Jenni Hermoso for his kiss in a wild press conference.
Rubiales has been widely criticised after kissing Hermoso on the lips in the aftermath of Spain’s first-ever Women’s World Cup victory. Video later emerged of Rubiales grabbing his crotch in celebration in close proximity to the Queen of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter.
Speaking to media on Friday, when he had been expected to resign and with the media briefed on his replacement, Rubiales doubled down on his position saying that he would fight to clear his name in court if necessary and calling out a “false feminism” witchhunt for the criticism.
He loudly told those gathered: “No I am not going to resign,” and reiterated himself a number of times, while some of the audience, including controversial Spain women’s head coach Jorge Vilda and Spain’s men’s head coach Luis de la Fuente, applauded his statement.
Spanish FA chief repeatedly shouts ‘I am not resigning!’ in chaotic press conference
Spanish soccer president faced general assembly amid reports he will resign
12:26 , Mike Jones
In what is perhaps the most bizarre moment of this controversy so far the president of the Spanish soccer federation faced an emergency meeting of its general assembly on Friday amid media reports that he will hand in his resignation.
The media were prepared for the matter to come to a conclusion on Friday morning as Luis Rubiales was expected to stand before representatives of Spain’s regional federations, clubs, players, coaches and referees in Madrid at noon local time to say he was stepping down.
The federation has refused to comment on repeated requests from The Associated Press for confirmation of Rubiales’ decision to go that was reported late on Thursday.
Now we know why, what followed was a mindblowing speech from Rubiales in what he refused to resign five times in a row to applause from the watching audience…
Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings against Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales
12:19 , Mike Jones
Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings against Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales in relation to his conduct at the World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday.
Rubiales has faced heavy criticism after he grabbed his crotch in celebration of Spain’s victory over England, while stood metres away from Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter Sofia in the stadium VIP area.
Rubiales then kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy celebration.
Fifa said in a statement issued on Thursday afternoon: “The Fifa disciplinary committee informed Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Association, today that it is opening disciplinary proceedings against him based on the events that occurred during the final of the Fifa Women’s World Cup on August 20, 2023.”
Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings against Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales
Luis Rubiales’ mother goes on hunger strike after locking herself inside a church
12:19 , Mike Jones
The latest development in this story concerns Luis Rubiales’ mother who has reportedly locked herself in a church and is going on a hunger strike in order to stop the ‘inhumane’ treatment of her son according to the Daily Mail.
Angeles Bejar has demanded an end to the ‘inhumane witch-hunt’ on Rubiales after he kissed Spanish midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips following their Women’s World Cup triumph.
Bejar has locked herself in the Divina Pastora church and started an ‘indefinite, day and night’ hunger strike until ‘justice is served.’
As reported by Marca, Luis Rubiales’ cousin Vanesa Ruiz Bejar, spoke on behalf of the family, saying: “My name is Vanesa Ruiz Bejar and I’m Luis Rubiales’ cousin. There’s a campaign of harassment occurring that is very unfair. Luis’ mum who is a very religious person has sought refuge in God and started a hunger strike.
“She doesn’t want to come out of the church. We are all suffering a lot because of what’s happened to Luis which doesn’t seem at all fair to us.
“He’s been condemned already without being tried. It’s not normal. We won’t to be left alone. The facts speak for them, there are videos, there are audio recordings.”
About Angeles Bejar she added: “She’s an elderly lady whose health is very delicate and she’s suffering a lot. She’s crying all time and is not able to sleep and is not eating.
“The person that spends five minutes with Luis knows he’s a really good person with a big heart. He’s a very noble person.”
Bejar also spoke directly to Jenni Hermoso saying: “Jenni, say the truth. Why has she changed her version three times? We have suffered a lot, we have had to leave our homes because of the harassment we’re suffering.
“We won’t to be left alone and see justice done and we want this woman to tell the truth. Jenni, ‘tell the truth!”
New accusations emerged from Luis Rubiales’ former colleague after Jenni Hermoso controversy
12:11 , Mike Jones
Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales is under increasing pressure to resign after new allegations of misogyny were levelled against him last week.
Tamara Ramos, the general director of the Futbolistas ON players union, has alleged that Rubiales made offensive and crude comments to her when the pair worked together at the Spanish footballers’ association.
Ramos claims that Rubiales would say things like “come on, you came here to get on your knees” and would ask her what colour underwear she was wearing, as reported following a recording aired by El Programa del Verano.
Spanish FA chief Rubiales faces new accusations after Jenni Hermoso World Cup kiss
Jenni Hermoso calls for ‘exemplary measures’ against Luis Rubiales after World Cup final kiss
12:04 , Mike Jones
Spain’s Jenni Hermoso has called for “exemplary measures” to be taken against Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales following his unsolicited kiss on her lips after the team’s victory in the Women’s World Cup, the FUTPRO union said on Wednesday last week.
The incident – which happened as Rubiales was presenting the players with their gold medals after they beat England 1-0 in the final on Sunday – sparked outrage within and outside Spain and many people, including government ministers, demanded his resignation.
“My union FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and have taken over as my interlocutors on this matter.” Hermoso said in a joint statement released by the union and her agency.
“We are working to ensure that acts such as those we have seen never go unpunished, that they are sanctioned and that the exemplary measures are adopted to protect women footballers from actions that we believe are unacceptable.”
FUTPRO is expected to meet today Spain’s second deputy leader Yolanda Diaz to ensure the actions of Rubiales are “duly sanctioned”.
Bayern Munich icon defends Spanish FA president at centre of kiss controversy
11:57 , Mike Jones
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s former CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, defended the actions of Luis Rubiales after the Spanish FA president kissed Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso on the lips following her team’s victory over England.
Rubiales was met with a heap of backlash after grabbing Hermoso’s head and kissing the 33-year-old as she, and her teammates, received their winners’ medals and the World Cup trophy.
Rummenigge believes that the incident was a display of emotion from Rubiales following such an impressive achievement and that it was ‘absolutely okay’ considering the situation he was in.
Bayern Munich icon defends Spanish FA president at centre of kiss controversy
Megan Rapinoe condemns culture of misogyny in Spanish football
11:50 , Mike Jones
There were opinions on both sides of the controversy all across the world debating with Luis Rubiales – and Jorge Vilda – had done anything wrong.
Megan Rapinoe of the US Women’s National Team condemned the “deep level misogyny and sexism” found in the Spanish Football Federation after the actions of Rubiales during the Women’s World Cup final:
Rapinoe condemns culture of misogyny in Spanish football
Spain boss Jorge Vilda appears to grab breast of female coach during World Cup final
11:43 , Mike Jones
In the days following the Women’s World Cup final Luis Rubiales was widely criticised for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips on the presentation stage and further stories emerged that led to questions about the culture within the Spanish FA itself.
Footage emerged of Spain’s women’s head coach Jorge Vilda – already a controversial figure himself – appearing to touch a female staff member inappropriately during the game.
In the moments following Olga Carmona’s World Cup-winning goal, the Spanish staff celebrated, but Vilda’s arm appeared to move from his colleague’s shoulder to her breast for longer than a brief moment, before returning.
Vilda is a divisive figure in Spain, backed by Rubiales he has been surrounded by controversy. Last year 15 players in the squad sent an email resigning from the national team – with the support of stars Alexia Putellas, Hermoso and Irene Paredes – and had several complaints.
Spain boss Jorge Vilda appears to grab breast of female coach during World Cup final
The ‘huge ego’ at the centre of Spanish football’s sexism storm
11:35 , Mike Jones
“Even before Luis Rubiales had planted a kiss on Jenni Hermoso’s lips during Spain’s World Cup celebration, other officials in the stadium were so struck by his behaviour that they were sending around videos. One, confidentially sent to The Independent, shows the president of the Spanish football federation appearing to grab his crotch in triumph. The gesture, which goes back to Ancient Rome, is generally taken to mean “I’m the man”.
“It is certainly an aggressively masculine gesture, making it all the more out of place at a women’s football tournament that is defined by its inclusivity. It feeds into one of many growing arguments in Spain, that Rubiales did not know how to comport himself at such an event, raising further questions over his suitability to oversee the federation. That the Queen of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter were close to him has only added to that.
“There is still the sense that Rubiales doesn’t really know what he did wrong in the kiss on Hermoso. If a widely criticised non-apology was not indicative enough, there were his litany of comments before it.”
The Independent’s Miguel Delaney breaks down the ‘huge ego’ at the centre of Spanish football’s latest controversy:
The ‘huge ego’ at the centre of Spanish football’s sexism storm
Spanish prime minister condemns FA president over ‘unacceptable’ kiss at Women’s World Cup final
11:27 , Mike Jones
The prime minister of Spain has stepped into the sexism storm surrounding the country’s football federation president Luis Rubiales, calling his actions at the Women’s World Cup final “unacceptable” and demanding a full explanation.
Rubiales has been condemned from Spanish politicians across the board for his behaviour in Sydney on Sunday, where he watched Spain beat England 1-0 to win the tournament. At full-time, Rubiales was caught grabbing his crotch in an aggressive celebration, before he later handled several players on the presentation stage and kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips.
Hermoso said she “did not like that” but Rubiales tried to dismiss the incident as “mutual and spontaneous” before caving to pressure and issuing an apology. Even then, he did not acknowledge the seriousness of his actions, simply saying: “It seems like it has caused a commotion as it seemed to do damage, so I want to apologise for it.”
Spanish PM condemns FA president over ‘unacceptable’ kiss at World Cup final
Spanish FA chief admits kissing footballer on lips ‘tarnished the celebration’ of World Cup win
11:19 , Mike Jones
The Spanish FA chief acknowledged that kissing one of the team’s players on the lips “tarnished the celebration” of the Women’s World Cup victory.
Luis Rubiales, who is also a member of Uefa’s ruling executive committee and a vice-president of European football’s governing body, issued a video statement on Monday after he was pictured kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso on the lips during Sunday’s medal ceremony in Sydney after Spain beat England 1-0 in the final.
“We saw it as something natural, normal and not in bad faith, but there are people who this has hurt and I have to apologise. There’s no other way, is there?” he said in the video shared with Spanish media.
Spanish FA chief says kissing footballer ‘tarnished celebration’ of World Cup win
Spanish football president’s kiss was an abuse of power that never should have happened
11:11 , Mike Jones
“It should have been a moment of glory, one for the history books, Spain lifting the golden trophy aloft after winning the biggest match in women’s sport. But instead the aftermath of the biggest Women’s World Cup is swirling with debate raging over a kiss, when it should be a triumph for the sport.
“The excuse of “boys will be boys” has seemingly been replaced by “minor show of affection”, as actions which could be considered sexual assault are swept under a carpet. In the post ‘me too’ era you would hope it would not be so easy to diminish such incidents, but that is exactly what the Spanish FA has done.”
The Independent’s Sonia Twigg writes about how Luis Rubiales abused his position of power through kissing Jenni Hermoso:
Spanish president’s kiss was an abuse of power that never should have happened
Spanish FA president apologises for kissing forward Jenni Hermoso at World Cup final
11:02 , Mike Jones
The day after the Women’s World Cup final, with controversy over the kiss growing ever louder Luis Rubiales issued an apology in a video address, saying:
“There is something I regret, and it was what happened between me and a player, with whom I have a fantastic relationship, just like with the others, where I have certainly made a mistake. I have to admit it,
“In that moment of absolute exultation, without any bad intentions or bad faith, well… that happened. I believe it happened in a very spontaneous way, which I repeat had no bad intentions from either side.
“From that point on, it wasn’t interpreted that way as we carried on as normal, naturally, and again with no ill will between us. But outside of that it seems like it has caused a commotion as it seemed to do damage, so I want to apologise for it, I don’t ask for anything else.”
It was a frustrating statement, with excuses again listed before an apology not for the act itself but only because it “did damage” to his reputation and the reputation of the Spanish FA.
Unsurprisingly, those criticising Rubiales were not convinced by his non-apology.
Spanish soccer leader’s behavior at Women’s World Cup final provokes angry reaction
10:55 , Mike Jones
Moments after Spain won the Women’s World Cup, the man who leads the country’s national soccer federation took some unwanted attention away from the celebrating players.
Criticism from the Spanish government and the soccer world rained down Monday on Luis Rubiales for his inappropriate conduct while reveling in Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sunday’s final in Sydney, Australia.
By grabbing his crotch in a victory gesture — seemingly oblivious to 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofía standing nearby — and then kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the medal and trophy ceremony on the field, Rubiales’s behavior marred the biggest day for women’s soccer.
Spanish soccer leader’s behavior at Women’s World Cup final provokes angry reaction
Equality minister criticises Rubiales’ actions
10:47 , Mike Jones
In the immediate aftermath of the kiss at the Women’s World Cup, Spain’s Equality Minister Irene Montero has one of the first people to come to Jenni Hermoso’s defence and vocally criticised the actions of Luis Rubiales saying:
“We shouldn’t assume that kissing someone without their consent is something that just happens. It’s a form of sexual violence women suffer regularly, and invisibly, that we cannot normalise.”
Pressure then continued to increase on the 46-year-old Rubiales who was filmed clutching his crotch in front of the Spanish Queen and her 16-year-old daughter at the World Cup final.
His role in charge of the country’s game has also come under scrutiny for his handling of a players’ protest which saw several Spain stars boycott the tournament.
Spanish FA boss under fire for kissing player filmed making obscene gesture
10:40 , Mike Jones
Luis Rubiales, the Spanish FA president at the centre of a storm following the Women’s World Cup final, has been caught making an obscene gesture during celebrations at full-time.
Rubiales came under fire in the aftermath of Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sydney for kissing Spanish player Jenni Hermoso on the lips on the presentation stage.
Asked about the moment, Hermoso intially said: “Eh… yeah, I did not enjoy that.” Later, via quotes put out by the Spanish FA, she described the kiss with the organisation’s president as “mutual and spontaneous”.
Hermoso has since refuted the claims from the Spanish FA saying they made up her quotes about the kiss.
Spanish FA boss who kissed player filmed making obscene gesture
Spain star Jenni Hermoso reacts after FA president kisses her on lips
10:32 , Mike Jones
Spain star Jenni Hermoso insisted she “did not enjoy it” after being kissed on the lips by Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales.
The incident occurred as Hermoso made her way to the podium after Spain defeated England in the Women’s World Cup final thanks to Olga Carmona’s strike.
After being given her medal by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, Hermoso was given a hug by Mr Rubiales, who lifted her off her feet.
A brief conversation between the pair followed, before Mr Rubiales grabbed Hermoso around her back and kissed her on the lips.
Spain star reacts after FA president kisses her on lips
Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales kisses Jenni Hermoso on the lips after world cup win
10:24 , Mike Jones
This is the moment Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales kisses player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after their world cup win over England.
After she is given her medal by Fifa President Gianni Infantino, Mr Rubiales can be seen giving Hermoso a hug and lifting her off her feet.
A brief conversation follows before Mr Rubiales grabs Hermoso around her back and kisses her on the lips. His actions sparked outcry on social and lead to calls that he resign from his post.
How did the Luis Rubiales controversy start?
10:16 , Mike Jones
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (Rfef) president, Luis Rubiales, has made headlines over the past week for his actions during the medal ceremony at the Women’s World Cup.
Spain won the tournment having beaten England in the final and as 33-year-old midfielder, Jenni Hermoso, went up to receive her medal Rubiales hugged her, grabbed her head and kissed her on the lips in a so-called exuberant celebration.
Hermoso then insisted she “did not enjoy it” after being kissed by Rubiales and controversy followed. Calls from former and current women footballers, parts of the media, and even the Spanish government itself came in to ask the 46-year-old to resign for his position.
At a wild press conference on Friday, Rubiales repeated his claims that the kiss was consensual, blamed a ‘false feminism’ witchhunt for trying to remove him and screamed his refusal to resign in bizarre scenes prompting more forceful measures to be taken against him.
As the heat on the Spanish FA president intensifies, the Rfef have organised an emergency meeting for this afternoon to discuss the next steps in this ongoing saga.
