Due to the kissing issue, the Spanish Football Federation has called for Luis Rubiales' resignation.
The appeal was made in a joint statement by the leaders of the regional organizations that comprise the federation (RFEF).The statement said, "The presidents request that Luis Rubiales resign immediately as president of the RFEF after the latest developments and the unacceptable behavior that has greatly damaged the image of Spanish soccer."
The heads further requested interim president Pedro Rocha to promptly revoke the federation's Monday appeal to UEFA suspending it from international tournaments due to meddling from the government over efforts to oust Rubiales.
Such a suspension would bar Spanish clubs from tournaments like the Champions League and may sway public opinion in favor of allowing him maintain his position, thus the decision was generally perceived as an attempt to suppress some of Rubiales' detractors, including government officials who have advocated for his resignation. National governments are prohibited from meddling in the operations of domestic soccer federations by the long-standing norms of soccer's regulatory organizations. However, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday that UEFA will not grant the Spanish federation's request for a punishment. The speaker requested anonymity since the decision-making process was private.
A barrage of criticism has been leveled at Rubiales for his actions at the Women's World Cup final, including kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the on-field trophy ceremony without her permission. FIFA, the body that governs soccer, has suspended him from office while it looks into his actions.
In order to defend her son, Rubiales' mother began a hunger strike on Monday in a church in southern Spain. She is calling for a stop to "the bloody and inhumane hounding" of Rubiales.
The extraordinary request for a suspension by the Spanish federation appeared to be a ruse to silence its detractors by provoking supporters, influential clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, the men's national team, and other groups to support its attempts to keep Rubiales on the job. Rubiales is a vice president of UEFA as well. The Champions League group stage draw will be held on Thursday by UEFA, and the men's national team will play two games in September to qualify for the 2024 European Championship.
Because it was in charge of organizing the Women's World Cup, FIFA took control of the situation on Thursday and started a disciplinary investigation against Rubiales. The actions of Rubiales during and during Spain's 1-0 victory against England in the final on August 20 in Sydney, Australia, have brought him and his five years as the federation's manager under heavy criticism. FIFA did not, however, use its interpretation of the laws against government meddling to defend Rubiales. The Spanish federation then allegedly appealed to UEFA to take action in a letter delivered on Friday, the same day that its under fire head resolutely refused to quit during an emergency meeting.
Rubiales is unable to do official business or communicate with other authorities as a result of the FIFA ban, notably when it comes to Spain's bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal, Morocco, and maybe Ukraine. Rubiales and the federation were also told not to get in touch with Hermoso by FIFA disciplinary judge Jorge Palacio. According to her, the federation forced her to openly support Rubiales. The Spain players, who were just named world champions, have said they would not participate in any further matches while Rubiales remains in charge despite being involved in a national crisis that they did not want and has overshadowed their victory.
