Luis Rubiales, the Spanish football federation president who kissed a player on the lips without her consent during the trophy ceremony in Australia last month, resigned late Sunday.
Spanish football is ready to move forward, three weeks after its women’s platoon won the Women’s World Cup but had its fests marred by a kiss that burned a extremity.
Luis Rubiales, the Spanish football confederation chairman who kissed a player on the lips without her concurrence during the jewel form in Australia last month, abnegated late Sunday following weeks of grim pressure from inside the sport and Spanish society in general.
The decision, which numerous in the country had been hoping to see much before, was anticipated to help Spanish football start prostrating one of its most disturbing chapters. It should also clear the way for Spain to get back on track with its shot to host the men’s World Cup in 2030 along with Portugal, Morocco and conceivably Ukraine.
“It’s over, ” Irene Montero, the amusement minister of equivalency in Spain, wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Rubiales had been extensively criticised after he kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the awards form following Spain’s 1- 0 palm over England in the Women’s World Cup final on August 20 in Sydney. Hermoso said the kiss was without her concurrence.
Rubiales had been anticipated to abdicate at an exigency general meeting of the confederation shortly after the World Cup final, but rather said he was a victim of a “ witch quest ” by “ false sexists. ”
His recalcitrant stage didn’t make the problem go down.
“The feminist country is advancing briskly and briskly, ” Yolanda Díaz, Spain’s amusement Deputy Prime Minister, wrote on X after Rubiales made his abdication public. “ The metamorphosis and enhancement of our lives is ineluctable. We’re with you, Jenni, and with all women. ”
Rubiales had been without public sympathizers other than his mama , who held a short- lived hunger strike in a church in southern Spain. His own confederation also intimately asked him to step down and one of his biggest sympathizers, women’s platoon trainer Jorge Vilda, was fired last week.
Pedro Rocha has been in charge of the confederation since Rubiales was provisionally suspended by FIFA, the governing body of world football. The Spanish confederation said in a statement early Monday that it would start proceedings to call for a new presidential election.
Rubiales also said he has abnegated as a vice chairman of the European football body UEFA because of the reputational peril the reproach could induce on Spain’s common shot to host the men’s World Cup.
“I don’t want Spanish football to be hurt by this inflated crusade against me, and over all, I take this decision after being assured that my exit would help contribute to the stability that will allow both Europe and Africa to stay united for their dream of 2030, which will permit the topmost sporting event in the world to go to our country, ” Rubiales said.
“Averring in staying and hanging on would not contribute anything positive (for) either the confederation or Spanish football, among other reasons, because the powers that be would stop me from returning (to my job). ”
The coming men’s World Cup will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
The statement from Rubiales late Sunday came at about the same time as the release of clips of an interview he did with television host Piers Morgan on Britain’s Talk TV.
Spanish state prosecutors last week opened the door for Rubiales to face felonious charges, which he still will have to deal with despite relinquishing from the football confederation.
“What I hope is that he goes down through a conviction, a sentencing, not because of his voluntary decision, ” Victoria Rosell, a government functionary dealing with gender violence, was quoted as saying by Spain’s EFE news agency.
Spain, which has moved up to No. 2 in the FIFA rankings, is listed to start the Women’s Nations League on September 22 with a visit to top- ranked Sweden. Spain beat Sweden in the Women’s World Cup semifinals. Know More Latest Football News…
