Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales to resign after FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings in opposition to him over kiss controversy

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President, Luis Rubiales, is ready to resign after disciplinary proceedings have been launched by FIFA over an incident involving an unsolicited kiss. Rubiales has been beneath hearth after he kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips in the course of the celebration of Spain Women’s World Cup 2023 victory.

This incident provoked a mass outcry each inside Spain and internationally, resulting in intensive requires his resignation, together with from authorities ministers. The stress grew extra intense when Hermoso acknowledged that such actions “should never go unpunished”, main FIFA to begin disciplinary proceedings in opposition to Rubiales, in accordance with Reuters.

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings in opposition to the president of the Spanish Football Association, Luis Rubiales, after his unsolicited kiss on Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso. The incident sparked outrage inside and out of doors Spain https://t.co/qtokjUV8jJ pic.twitter.com/pTCueHK8cO
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 24, 2023

Despite his preliminary retort to critics and a public video apology, the controversy surrounding Rubiales didn’t subside. Regional leaders of the RFEF convened on Thursday night time to deliberate on Rubiales’ future and potential successors. Sources indicated that Pedro Rocha, the pinnacle of the Extremadura soccer federation, and Pablo Lozano, chief of the Andalusian federation, are thought-about main candidates.

Rubiales entered the RFEF in 2018 with a pledge to modernise the federation and make it extra clear after his predecessor, Angel Maria Villar, confronted corruption fees. However, his tenure has been fraught with controversies, such because the sudden dismissal of Julen Lopetegui two days earlier than Spain’s first match in the course of the 2018 World Cup. He additionally confronted allegations of malfeasance associated to a deal to maneuver the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, inner divisions surfaced throughout the ladies’s squad final 12 months with quite a few gamers calling for coach Jorge Vilda’s dismissal. In response, Vilda eliminated 12 gamers from his World Cup group.

Rubiales, as soon as a participant for a number of decrease league groups in Spain, ended his enjoying profession in 2009 in Scotland. He was elected because the President of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) a 12 months later, a place he held up till his nomination for the RFEF presidency in 2017.

Published On:

Aug 25, 2023