Spanish football federation leaders ask president Rubiales to resign

GENEVA (AP):

Leading officials within the Spanish Football Federation asked suspended president Luis Rubiales to resign yesterday because of his behaviour at the Women’s World Cup, including kissing a player on the lips after Spain won the championship match.

The heads of the regional bodies that make up the federation (RFEF) made the request in a collective statement.

“After the latest developments and the unacceptable behaviour that have caused great damage to the image of Spanish football, the presidents request that Luis Rubiales resign immediately as president of the RFEF,” the statement said.

Earlier yesterday, the federation asked UEFA to suspend it from international competitions because of government interference related to Rubiales. However, in their statement, the heads of the regional bodies urged interim federation president Pedro Rocha to withdraw that request immediately.

The federation’s request for a suspension was widely seen as an attempt to silence some of Rubiales’ critics, including government ministers who have asked for his removal. Such a suspension would ban Spanish teams from competitions like the Champions League and could sway public opinion in favour of letting him keep his job.

Football’s governing bodies have longstanding rules barring national governments from interfering with the running of domestic federations. However, UEFA will not comply with the Spanish federation’s request for a sanction, a person familiar with the issue told The Associated Press yesterday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision-making process was confidential.

Rubiales has faced a torrent of criticism from around the globe over his behaviour at the Women’s World Cup final, including his kiss of Spain player Jenni Hermoso without her consent during the on-field trophy ceremony.

Rubiales was suspended from office Saturday by soccer’s governing body FIFA, which is investigating his conduct.

His mother yesterday started a hunger strike in a church in southern Spain in defence of her son, demanding an end to “the bloody and inhumane hounding” of him.

The unprecedented request by the Spanish federation asking for a suspension seemed like a leverage play against its critics by trying to provoke fans and powerful clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, plus the men’s national team, into backing its efforts to save Rubiales’ job. Rubiales is also a UEFA vice president.

Spain’s top clubs are due to take part in Thursday’s Champions League group-stage draw being made by UEFA, and the men’s national team has games on September 8 and 12 in qualifying for the 2024 European Championship.

FIFA opened a disciplinary case against Rubiales on Thursday after taking control of the process because it organised the Women’s World Cup. Rubiales’ behaviour during and after Spain’s 1-0 win over England in the final on August 20 in Sydney, Australia, has focused intense scrutiny on him and his five-year management of the federation.

FIFA, however, did not invoke its version of the rules against government interference to protect Rubiales.

The Spanish federation then urged UEFA to act, reportedly in a letter sent Friday, the same day its embattled president defiantly refused to resign at an emergency meeting.

The FIFA suspension prevents Rubiales taking part in official business and having contact with other officials, including in Spain’s bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal, Morocco and possibly Ukraine.