2023-09-10 23:28:09
The suspended president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, who caused international outrage for having forcibly kissed the player Jennifer Hermoso after the world title of “Roja”, announced his resignation on Sunday evening.
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“About my resignation, yes, I will do it, yes, because I cannot continue my work,” he said in English in an interview with British television journalist Piers Morgan.
Rubiales added that those close to him told him, “Luis, you need to worry about your dignity and move on with your life. Otherwise, you will hurt the people you love and the sport you love.”
His resignation was notified at 9:30 p.m. to the interim president of the Federation, according to a letter signed by Rubiales and published by Spanish media, exactly three weeks after the start of the affair.
The Spanish Football Federation has confirmed. “He informed the federation in a letter addressed to Pedro Rocha Junco (interim president). He also resigned from his position as vice-president of UEFA,” the RFEF said in a statement.
It will now begin a process to appoint Rubiales’ replacement.
“The former president of the RFEF did what he had to do, I think that’s what all Spanish citizens asked of him”, commented the Secretary of State for Sports, Victor Francos, at the microphone of radio Cadena Ser.
“It’s finish”
On the social network X (formerly Twitter), the Minister for Equality, Irene Montero, simply wrote “Se Acabo” (It’s over, in Spanish), taking up a slogan that Jenni Hermoso and her teammates of the selection had also used to express their protest.
“The feminist country is moving faster and faster,” said Yolanda Diaz, second deputy prime minister of the Spanish government. “Transformation and improvement of our lives is inevitable. We are with you, Jenni, and with all women,” she added on X.
In his resignation letter, Rubiales says he acted with the concern to protect Spanish football, but again defends himself from having attacked the international, aged 33.
“Following the rapid suspension of FIFA and the procedures opened against me, it is obvious that I will not be able to regain my position,” he wrote in this letter.
“I don’t want Spanish football to be able to suffer the damage of this disproportionate campaign” launched, according to him, against him, he said again. “I trust the truth and will do everything in my power to ensure it prevails.”
On August 20, minutes after the women’s “Roja” world title in Sydney, the 48-year-old Spanish football boss kissed Jenni Hermoso on the mouth in surprise, sparking outrage in Spain and across the country. world.
Refusing to resign for “a little consensual kiss”, he attacked, during a resounding speech on August 25, a supposed “false feminism” and argued that he had obtained the player’s authorization before kissing her.
A version denied by Jenni Hermoso who said she “felt vulnerable and victim (…) of an impulsive and sexist act, inappropriate and without any consent on (her) part”.
Complaint for “sexual assault”
Suspended by FIFA for a period of 90 days, Rubiales also risks being prosecuted for “sexual assault” by the Spanish courts, the prosecution having requested his indictment on Friday after receiving a complaint from Jennifer Hermoso.
Since a recent reform of the Spanish Penal Code, a non-consensual kiss can be considered sexual assault, a criminal category bringing together all types of sexual violence.
According to a spokesperson for the prosecution, the penalty incurred by Luis Rubiales ranges from a fine to four years in prison.
This affair plunged Spanish football into chaos in the midst of its bid to host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco, and overshadowed the world title of the women’s national team.
Criticized by his players, coach Jorge Vilda, close to Rubiales, was sacked on Tuesday by the federation and replaced by his former assistant, Montse Tomé.
His counterpart in the men’s selection, Luis De la Fuente, for his part had to ask “forgiveness” last week for having applauded, like many members of the federation, the speech of Rubiales on August 25.
The first woman to lead the women’s selection, Montse Tomé will have to quickly convince the 23 world champions to end their strike while the next international matches will take place on September 22 and 26.
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