Spainish FA boss Rubiales defiant rules out resignation
Contrary to expectations in some quarters that embattled President of Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales will throw in the towel today following raging condemnation of his world cup kiss saga, he has declared that he will not resign.Rubiales claimed he is the victim of a witch hunt by “false feminists” as he refused to resign as Spanish FA president for kissing Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s Women’s World Cup final victory on Sunday.
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Rubiales embraced the forward before kissing her on the lips during the medal ceremony following the team’s 1-0 win against England in Sydney.
After initially calling his critics “idiots”, Rubiales apologised on Monday and it was expected he would bow to the pressure of the growing calls for him to stand down.
However, he shocked the footballing world in an extraordinary address to an emergency general assembly of the Spanish Football Federation that lasted over half an hour on Friday as he shouted, “I will not resign”.
Rubiales, who is now under investigation by FIFA, also said of the incident: “The kiss was the same I could give one of my daughters.”
Hermoso had said in a video streamed on social media after the kiss that “I didn’t like it, but what can I do?”
The Spanish players’ union issued a statement on Hermoso’s behalf saying it would defend her interests and ensure that the act “does not go unpunished”.
Before the kiss, Rubiales had grabbed his crotch in a lewd victory gesture from the section of dignitaries at the stadium, with Spain’s Queen Letizia and the 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia standing nearby.
READ ALSO Spain’s World Cup win ‘rocked’ by kiss saga demands Rubiales sack
“I apologise for my mistakes,” he added. “I’m going to continue fighting as my parents and my coaches taught me. Those who know me, know that we are going to get to the end.”
Rubiales’ speech was regularly interrupted by applause from the crowd and ended with a standing ovation with Spain Women’s head coach Jorge Vilda and Luis de la Fuente, the men’s head coach, among those on their feet.
However, Rubiales’ comments were not well-received by some former Spain internationals, with David De Gea taking to X – the social media platform formerly known as Twitter – to write: “My ears are bleeding.”
Former Spain captain Iker Casillas wrote: “Embarrassing.”