The Royal Spanish Football Federation calls for the suspension President Luis Rubiales to resign after his controversial and lewd celebrations The country won the World Cup It provoked violent international reactions.
“Following recent developments and unacceptable behavior that has caused significant damage to the image of Spanish football, the bosses ask Luis Rubiales to resign immediately as president of the Spanish Football Federation,” a committee of regional presidents that make up the Spanish Football Federation. He said In a statement on Monday following an emergency meeting.
The announcement comes days after Rubiales was suspended for at least 90 days by FIFA He refused to resign after bid Spanish midfielder Gini Hermoso receives an unwanted kiss on the lips During the World Cup Awards Ceremony. Rubiales said the kiss was Mutual and consensualHermoso, however, refuted his claims and said they were “victim of assault.”
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The Committee of Regional Presidents announced their “unanimous support” for RFEF vice-president Pedro Rocha, who was appointed as interim president after Rubiales was suspended by FIFA, with the hope of a “deep and imminent organic restructuring of the federation’s strategic positions to give the path to a stage”. New management in Spanish football.
Hermoso and more than 80 current and former Spanish players, including Spain’s 2023 World Cup squad, signed a statement. He refused to play for the national team until Rubiales was removed.
Rubiales faced backlash Not only for kissing Hermoso without his consent, but also for grabbing him by the genitals after Spain’s 1-0 World Cup victory over England, while standing near Queen Letizia of Spain and 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia. He apologized for the indecent gesture he had made in front of the Spanish royal family, but did not insist that he had done anything wrong in kissing Hermoso. He defiantly vowed to “fight to the end”.
FIFA opened a disciplinary case against Rubiales on Thursday.
Earlier on Monday, Rubiales Angeles Bejar’s mother began a hunger strike and vowed to stay in church “day and night” in Spain until the “inhumane stalking” of her son ended.
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared in the USA TODAY: Luis Rubiales: Officials of the Spanish Football Federation are asking him to resign