The Spanish football federation has demanded its president Luis Rubiales resigns with immediate effect following the World Cup kissing scandal.
Rubiales was widely condemned for kissing World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s World Cup final victory against the Lionesses on August 20.
The regional presidents of the Spanish FA ‘unanimously’ agreed that the embattled chief should step down after crisis talks today.
‘After the latest events and the unacceptable behaviors that have seriously damaged the image of Spanish football, the presidents request that Mr. Luis Rubiales immediately present his resignation as president of the RFEF,’ a statement said.
It comes just hours after prosecutors opened a preliminary sex abuse investigation into Rubiales, while his mother has locked herself inside a church and gone on hunger strike to stop what she calls the ‘inhumane’ treatment of her son.
One of Rubiales’ cousin told MailOnline today that the family is heartbroken by how the incident has ‘been taken out of context’ and that although the 46-year-old ‘made a mistake’, he has a ‘good heart’.
In this evening’s bombshell statement, the regional presidents also congratulated the women’s team for triumphing at the World Cup and commended them on the ‘legacy’ they are creating.
The Spanish football federation has called for its president Luis Rubiales (pictured) to resign with immediate effect following the World Cup kissing scandal
This is the moment that Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women’s World Cup
The statement added: ‘We will urge the corresponding bodies to carry out a deep and imminent organic restructuring in strategic positions of the Federation to give way to a new stage of management in Spanish football.
‘Once FIFA has suspended Mr. Luis Rubiales, the Federation’s internal protocols have been activated as a result of the suspension.
‘In addition, we have urged President Pedro Rocha to immediately withdraw the last communication on behalf of the Federation with FIFA and UEFA that we have known today.
‘The RFEF maintains its commitment to continue implementing its investment, as well as equality policies for the development of women’s football.
‘Lastly, the Presidents’ Commission has given its unanimous support to Mr. Pedro Rocha so that he may lead a new stage where dialogue and reconciliation with all football institutions is the line to follow.
‘We make ourselves available to the CSD and all the institutions involved to continue building together the candidacy for the 2030 World Cup.’
The mother of the head of Spain’s soccer federation Luis Rubiales, Angeles Bejar (left), was seen chatting with Vanesa Ruiz Bejar, her niece, at the church’s entrance on Monday afternoon
Inside the Divina Pastora church in Motril where the mother of shamed Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has gone on hunger strike over his ‘inhumane’ treatment
Hermoso, who has said she did not consent to the kiss and felt ‘vulnerable and the victim of an aggression’, has been warmly supported by fellow players and many in wider society.
She was applauded by the crowd when she was spotted on a balcony with dignitaries at the Women’s Cup final between Atletico Madrid and Milan on Saturday evening. Players at the match held a banner reading: ‘With you Jennifer Hermoso’.
But Rubiales’ heartbroken mother Angeles Bejar has defended her son and has locked herself in the Divina Pastora church in Motril, east of Malaga in southern Spain, and started an ‘indefinite, day and night’ hunger strike until ‘justice is served.’
Vanesa Ruiz Bejar, Rubiales’ cousin, told MailOnline today: ‘We have spoken to her (Angeles) and she is crying all the time and praying, asking for God’s help.
‘In the church is her sister-in-law, she is called Maria Carmen, she is Demleza’s (another cousin) mother.’
‘The family is very sad because things have been taken out of context.
‘It was a world cup, maybe a couple of things, a gesture he made might have been out of place, but we are talking about something historic, a moment of maximum joy.
‘We are talking about winning the World cup, this was a kiss that was consensual, you can see it in the pictures and the videos.
‘We cannot understand why this person who says she has been sexually assaulted, hasn’t gone to a court to report this and is instead carrying on, having a good time.
‘Jenni has not made a complaint, if she feels so bad why hasn’t she gone to where she needs to go to.
‘He’s been condemned before he has been tried, it is not right. He has been suspended by FIFA but I don’t know how it will end.
‘We just thing it’s very unfair, he made a mistake but he when we get to this level of harassment towards him and a very serious accusation against him which could affect his life, well then, it’s not fair.
‘We want the person to put their hand on their heart, what sort of world are we living in.
‘I haven’t talked to Luis, but I imagine he is in a very bad way. He is a strong man, with a strong character and he has a good heart but I imagine he s very sad because he has been accused of very serious things, not in line with reality.
‘He hasn’t sexually assaulted her, he hasn’t indecently assaulted her, it’s a very serious accusation which will have to be proved.’
She said the protest would continue tomorrow.