Despite the backlash following his uninvited kiss on the mouth of player Jenni Hermoso (33) during celebrations after Spain’s Women’s World Cup triumph, Luis Rubiales, President of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), refused to step down on Friday.
The incident triggered outrage both within Spain and beyond its borders, prompting numerous voices, including government officials, players, and coaches, to call for his resignation.
This pressure led to the federation convening an emergency assembly on Friday. During this assembly, Rubiales asserted that the kiss was consensual and portrayed himself as the target of what he termed ‘social assassination’.
“I will not resign, I will not resign,” he said.
He had been under fire after kissing Hermoso on the lips while handing the team their medals after they beat England 1-0 in the final on Sunday in Sydney.
Hermoso has said in a statement that such acts “should never go unpunished”.
Rubiales’ half-hearted apology on Monday failed to quell the uproar and on Thursday, FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against him.