According to media reports, Luis Rubiales apparently wants to resign as president of the Spanish football association RFEF because of the kissing scandal at the women’s World Cup final.
He informed his team that he would make his decision public on Friday, wrote the sports newspapers “Marca”, “Mundo Deportivo”, “AS”, “Sport” and other media unanimously. There was initially no official confirmation.
The 46-year-old kissed the player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth without being asked at the award ceremony for the Spanish soccer world champions in Australia last Sunday.
Shortly thereafter, Hermoso said in a video that she was uncomfortable with the kiss. “But what should I do,” she added. A storm of indignation broke out and many in Spain called for Rubiales’ resignation.
Prime Minister Sánchez: Behavior “unacceptable”
He will explain this on Friday at an extraordinary general assembly of the Spanish football association RFEF, the media reported.
At the meeting, the consequences of the encroaching behavior of the head of the association should be discussed. Spanish media had previously speculated that members of the General Assembly could back Rubiales
In this case, the government had already announced that it would intervene. Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently described Rubiales’ behavior as “unacceptable”.
According to media reports, the decision to resign was triggered by the opening of disciplinary proceedings by the world football association FIFA.
“FIFA reaffirms its unconditional commitment to respecting the integrity of all individuals and therefore strongly condemns any conduct to the contrary,” the organization said in a statement. The Disciplinary Committee is examining a violation of Article 13 of its own regulations, which is headed “Offending behavior and violations of the principles of fair play”. Rubiales is also Vice-President of the European Football Union UEFA.