Suspended Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales has officially resigned from his position following a scandal involving a non-consensual kiss. Rubiales made the announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter. In his statement, Rubiales acknowledged his swift suspension by FIFA and the mounting cases against him, making it clear that he is unable to return to his post. The scandal unfolded during the awards ceremony after Spain’s victory over England in the Women’s World Cup, when Rubiales kissed star player Jenni Hermoso without her consent.
Spanish state prosecutors have accused Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion in relation to the unwanted kiss. The country’s prosecutors’ office released a statement on Friday, confirming the accusations. This follows Hermoso’s formal accusation of sexual assault against Rubiales, which she made two days prior to the legal actions taken by the prosecutors. Due to his misconduct during the final, FIFA had previously suspended Rubiales from his job.
In addition to his resignation from the Spanish soccer federation, Rubiales also stepped down as UEFA vice president. He informed interim president Pedro Rocha of his decision late Sunday night. Rubiales, 46, had been in charge of the federation since 2018 and has a background in playing football as well as leading Spain’s main players union.
During an interview with TV host Piers Morgan on Britain’s TalkTV, Rubiales confirmed his intention to resign. The show released clips of the interview on Sunday. It is clear that the scandal surrounding the non-consensual kiss has had serious repercussions for Rubiales, leading to his resignation and the end of his involvement in both national and international soccer governance.