New Delhi: Suspended Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales has resigned from his post. He announced his resignation Sunday in a message posted on X. This move follows a slew of controversies that began with his inappropriate behaviour during Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup in August in Sydney, Australia.
In his statement Rubiales said that After my swift suspension by FIFA, and the rest of the cases building against me, it is clear that I cannot return to the post. Only days before Rubiales’ resignation, Spanish state prosecutors had charged him with sexual assault and coercion. This legal development came two days after Hermoso officially accused Rubial.
Hermoso strongly contradicts Rubiales’s claims that the kiss was a consensual act of celebration. He also said that there was an effort by the federation to get him and his family to support Rubiales. Rubiales kissed star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the awards ceremony after Spain beat England to win the title on Aug. 20 in Sydney, Australia. He had already been suspended from his job by FIFA for his conduct at the final.
Rubiales said he also resigned as UEFA vice president. The incident has not only stained Rubiales’ reputation but also sparked debates crossing Spain’s borders, touching upon issues of consent, sexism, and abuse of power in the world of sports. He said that he had told interim Spanish federation president Pedro Rocha who replaced him when Rubiales was suspended on Aug. 26 of his resignation late Sunday night.
Rubiales’ decision comes at a pivotal time when Spain is bidding, along with Portugal, Morocco, and possibly Ukraine, to host the 2030 Men’s World Cup. Given the reputational risks involved, Rubiales has also stepped down from his position as UEFA vice president. Rubiales, 46, is a former player and head of Spain’s main players union. He had run the federation since 2018.
On Sunday, Rubiales said “I am going to (resign), I cannot continue my work,” in reply to a question from TV host Piers Morgan on Britain’s TalkTV. Clips from the show were released Sunday.
