Kissgate: Luis Rubiales Resigns
Comment
Luis Rubiales resigned from his positions as Spain’s FA president and the Vice President of UEFA today. This followed the backlash from the controversial kiss he gave to female player, Jenni Hermoso at the FIFA Women World Cup 2023 prize-giving ceremony.
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In his defense then, the former president had said, ‘The spontaneity and happiness of the historic moment led us to carry out a mutual and consensual act, a product of great enthusiasm. At no time was there any aggression, indeed, there was not even the slightest discomfort, but an overflowing joy in both of us.’
His official resignation statement includes as follows:
‘I have presented my resignation from the position of president of the RFEF. I have also informed you that I have done the same with my position at UEFA so that my position in the Vice Presidency can be replaced.
After the quick suspension carried out by FIFA, plus the rest of open proceedings against me, it is evident that I will be able to return to my position. Insisting on waiting and holding on is not going to contribute to anything positive, neither to the Federation nor to Spanish football.’
Prior to his resignation, the FA president emphasized thrice that he had no intentions of resigning, saying he would fight to the end.
While Rubiales spoke about his new decision, he revealed that both his daughters and family have suffered what he called ‘excessive persecution’ in the wake of the kiss. Also, he expressed he was privy that some believe in his side of the story.
‘My daughters, my family and the people who love me have suffered the effects of persecution excessive, as well as many falsehoods, but it is also true that on the street, more and more every day, the truth is prevailing.’
Jenni Hermoso claimed that the kiss was non-consensual, but this was after she had admitted the opposite. Concerning this, she later claimed that the RFEF (Spain’s football governing body) made her give the first statement. The ripples that oolowed this second statement brought an end to the officiating of the team’s coach, Jorge Vilda, and most recently, that of the president himself.
I do not want Spanish football to be harmed by this entirely disproportionate campaign.
– Luis Rubiales.
About 85 players recently resigned from the Spanish team, saying they would not serve their country anymore in the sport while Luis Rubiales remained president. The men’s team also made an official statement to disclose their stand on the issue; they were against the president.
This resignation will be remembered as one of the saddest incidents in Spain’s sports, since the two men whose work brought their female team their first ever world cup were persecuted and sacked.
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