They don’t need your kisses-louis-louis

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales has resigned. Mr. Rubiales also published an open letter in which he announced that he was leaving his position as vice-president of the European Union of Football Associations (UEFA). The official’s departure is a consequence of the high-profile international “kiss scandal” caused by the fact that the RFEF president kissed the captain of the Spanish women’s team, Jennifer Hermoso, on the lips at the World Cup gold medal ceremony for the Spanish women. Luis Rubiales explained that he realized that in any case he would not be able to return to work, since certain influential forces were opposing this.

In a high-profile, international scandal caused by the fact that RFEF President Luis Rubiales kissed the lips of Spanish team player Jennifer Hermoso at the ceremony for awarding the World Cup gold to the Spanish team (they beat the English team in the final) may have put an end to it. Mr. Rubiales, in an interview with the famous British TV presenter Piers Morgan as part of the Piers Morgan Uncensored program, said that he was leaving his post. So far they have only been made public announcements interview – the full version will air on Tuesday. “Yes, I intend to resign because I can no longer do my job,” said the 46-year-old functionary. “Friends and family members told me: listen, Louis, you need to think about your self-respect, you need to get on with your life. Otherwise, you will damage both the people who love you and the sport that you love.”

On Monday RFEF on its official website confirmedthat Luis Rubiales resigned, as announced in a letter addressed to the acting head of the RFEF, Pedro Rocha.

In addition, on Sunday Luis Rubiales published an open letter in which he announced that he was also leaving the post of UEFA vice-president. “After the rapid suspension of me by the International Football Federation, as well as taking into account other actions taken against me, it is obvious that I will no longer be able to return to my duties,” said Luis Rubiales. “If I continue to cling to my job, then this will not help benefit neither the RFEF nor Spanish football in general.” Mr. Rubiales also added that “among other things, he is leaving football because there are forces that oppose his return,” adding that he “believes that the truth will prevail and will do everything for this.”

The “kiss scandal” really led to the emergence of a whole front of Mr. Rubiales’ ill-wishers.

Against the background of the extremely sharp reaction of the Western media to the act, which Luis Rubiales called “disproportionate to what happened,” FIFA suspended the functionary from work during the investigation, and the Spanish national team players refused to play for the national team until the RFEF leadership changed.

Jennifer Hermoso, who at first said that Mr. Rubiales’ actions were only a manifestation of sympathy (there are video and photographic materials indicating that both Ms. Hermoso herself and other players of the Spanish national team took the incident as a joke), later changed her position and filed to the prosecutor’s office a statement of sexual violence by an official. The authorities have not yet made a procedural decision on the application, but Luis Rubiales still faces criminal prosecution.

Spanish politicians also got involved in the matter – the country’s Minister of Culture and Sports Mikel Iseta, Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz and even Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. They all called Mr. Rubiales’ actions unacceptable and called for his resignation. Wave of indignation against Luis Rubiales washed away and head coach of the Spanish national team Jorge Wild. They had just renewed his contract, but then they remembered, firstly, the friendly relationship with Mr. Rubiales, and secondly, the riot in the national team that happened last year. Then 15 female players were informed that they could refuse to play for her if their “concerns” about the “emotional state” and “health” of the team were not taken into account.

Alexander Petrov