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Luis Rubiales, who was at the center of a firestorm after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s victory in the World Cup final last month, has resigned as president of the Spanish Football Federation, he announced on Sunday.
Rubiales said during an interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” that he “cannot continue my work,” adding: a letter to the association In it, he said he would also step down as vice president of UEFA, European soccer’s governing body.
Breaking news: Luis Rubiales has sensationally resigned from his position as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation following the scandal surrounding a kiss with Spain’s Jenni Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup final. He revealed the news in a worldwide exclusive interview for@PiersUncensored pic.twitter.com/Kl2uQTOzqv
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 10, 2023
Rubiales, 46, had widely condemned the kiss, which took place during the awards ceremony. He was in the midst of a 90-day ban from FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, and his decision followed a call from Spanish federation officials for him to resign, as well as a statement from the Spanish women’s team that it would not play any games until that time been removed.
On Friday, Spain’s attorney general filed a formal complaint against Rubiales, accusing him of sexual assault and coercion.
“[My father], my daughters – I spoke to them. You know it’s not a question about me,” Rubiales said in the interview with Morgan. “Some friends who are very close to me say: ‘Luis, you need to focus on your dignity and move on with your life because you will harm the people you love.’ … In this situation, that’s what I have to do.”
Rubiales had claimed his kiss from Hermoso was “mutual and consensual”, but FIFA quickly imposed an interim ban.
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“After the quick ban imposed by FIFA and the rest of the ongoing proceedings against me, it is obvious that I cannot return to my position,” Rubiales’ statement, written in Spanish, said, according to the BBC. “Insisting on waiting and persevering will not contribute anything positive, neither for the association nor for Spanish football.”
Rubiales largely did not apologize for his actions, but pressure on him and the Royal Spanish Football Federation increased in the three weeks since the end of the World Cup and Hermoso, Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer, filed a formal complaint in which she said she felt “vulnerable.” ” and an “assault victim” when he kissed her.
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The day after the August 20 incident, he issued a lukewarm apology, but insisted that Hermoso had brought me “close to her body” at the podium and accused critics of “social assassination.” He came under fire from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who said his actions were “unacceptable” but that the Spanish government had limited options to punish Rubiales.
Rubiales’ resignation came five days after women’s coach Jorge Vilda was fired. Last year, 15 star players refused to play for the national team because of what they said were Vilda’s iron control and a culture of sexism.