Luis Rubiales Resigns as President of Spanish Soccer Federation Amid Controversy

Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish soccer federation, has tendered his resignation following weeks of intense criticism stemming from an unwanted kiss shared with Women’s World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso. Rubiales announced his decision on social media, indicating that he has also stepped down from his position as vice president of UEFA.

In his letter of resignation, Rubiales expressed his belief that holding onto his position would not yield positive results for the federation or Spanish football. He emphasized that it was time to move forward and that the powers that be would hinder his return.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed Rubiales’ resignation and announced plans to hold an election to select his successor. The controversy surrounding Rubiales stemmed from an unwanted kiss on Hermoso after the Women’s World Cup final, which led to widespread condemnation.

Jennifer Hermoso had publicly stated that the kiss was not consensual and did not respect her boundaries, leading to her filing an official complaint against Rubiales. FIFA provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days pending a disciplinary investigation.

Rubiales’ resignation has marked a turning point in the ongoing crisis within Spanish soccer, with various political figures and sports stars joining the call for his departure. The incident has also sparked discussions about the prevalence of “macho culture” in Spain and its impact on gender dynamics.

The dispute led to the resignation of Spain’s women’s national team coaches and prompted over 80 Spanish soccer players to express their support for Jennifer Hermoso. All 23 members of Spain’s Women’s World Cup-winning squad, along with nearly 50 other professional female soccer players, pledged not to play for the national team until Rubiales stepped down.

As the controversy deepened, several soccer teams, both male and female, displayed their support for Hermoso during their matches. Spanish prosecutors have opened an investigation into Rubiales on charges of sexual assault and coercion, following an official complaint by Jennifer Hermoso.

The resignation of Luis Rubiales represents a significant moment in Spanish soccer and reflects the broader societal conversation surrounding gender dynamics and consent.