
<p>Harsh criticism and related suspensions have led to Luis Rubiales, the President of the Football Association in Spain, resigning from his post. Rubiales notoriously <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/chief-of-spain-fa-takes-focus-for-bizarre-world-cup-moment-20230820-WST-451187.html">kissed Spain star Jenni Hermoso</a> after Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Despite <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/spanish-official-calls-on-luis-rubiales-to-resign-for-kiss-20230822-WST-451520.html">widespread requests for his resignation</a>, Rubiales protested what he called a “<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/spanish-fa-president-refuses-to-resign-in-dramatic-speech-20230825-WST-452093.html">social assassination</a>” from critics. </p>



<p>On Sunday, RFEF, the Spanish Football Federation, confirmed Rubiales <a href="https://rfef.es/es/noticias/oficial-la-rfef-confirma-la-dimision-de-luis-rubiales" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">presented his resignation</a>. The decision ended the drawn-out saga that included <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mother-of-rfef-president-rubiales-weirdly-protests-sons-status-20230828-WST-452409.html">Rubiales’s mother going on a hunger strike</a> at a Spanish church. Yet, the move is paramount for Spanish soccer. </p>



<p>Players from the World Cup-winning squad call for change in the Spanish ranks. This helps answer one of the many rousing issues in Spanish soccer. While unrelated, the top Spanish women’s soccer division, the Liga F, went on strike due to pay discrepancies. Rubiales’s resignation at least answers one of the concerns the executives in RFEF face. </p>



<p>Luis Rubiales also featured on Piers Morgan Uncensored in an exclusive interview. There, he discussed how he cannot continue his work.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Luis Rubiales Sensationally RESIGNS In Interview With Piers Morgan" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r97T4PIc06c?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h2>Spain can move on from Luis Rubiales after resignation</h2>



<p>Rubiales’s resignation helps allow 81 players to return. Those players, which include the 23 winners from the Women’s World Cup, vowed they would never represent Spain so long as Rubiales retained his post as President of the Federation. The controversy surrounding the Federation led to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/spain-sacks-womens-head-coach-vilda-after-world-cup-win-20230905-WST-454202.html">sacking of Jorge Vilda</a>, the head coach of the women’s team from the World Cup.</p>



<p>Now, Rubiales focuses on the legal battle. Rubiales faces a legal complaint regarding sexual assault and coercion. Jenni Hermoso testified against Rubiales on Tuesday. According to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66637879" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>, a sexual assault charge carries a potential fine or up to four years in prison. </p>



<p>Rubiales’s conduct during the Women’s World Cup Final went far beyond just kissing Jenni Hermoso. Cameras spotted Rubiales repeatedly grabbing his crotch while near Spanish royalty in the stands. Then, after the game, he was in the squad’s locker room telling them he would pay for a trip to Ibiza. There, Rubiales said he would marry Hermoso.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / ANP</em></p>


Spain FA President Luis Rubiales resigns following Hermoso kiss

Harsh criticism and related suspensions have led to Luis Rubiales, the President of the Football Association in Spain, resigning.

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<p>Luis Rubiales, the chief of the Spain FA, had a bizarre method of celebration following the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/spain-a-class-above-wins-first-womens-world-cup-final-20230820-WST-451135.html">women’s team winning the World Cup</a> on Sunday. </p>



<p>As the squad accepted their medals and met the Queen and Princess of Spain, Rubiales was there to greet each of the players. In addition to shaking their hands and hugging them, he would provide a kiss on the cheek. This is quite common in Europe. What is not common is the fact that Rubiales kissed Spain’s Jenni Hermoso on the lips. </p>



<p>When questioned about the impromptu incident after the trophy celebration, Hermoso admitted that she did not expect nor enjoy the moment. “Eh, I didn’t like it,” <a href="https://videos.marca.com/v/0_44xd55jt-jenni-hermoso-sobre-el-beso-de-rubiales-eh-pero-no-me-ha-gustado?count=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hermoso told a teammate</a> during a social media video.</p>



<p>However, the bizarre behavior from Rubiales did not stop there. A kit room stream on Salma Paralluelo’s Instagram Live showed Rubiales talking to players. Colin Millar from <em>The Mirror</em> says Rubiales told the players the Spain FA will pay for a trip for the women to Ibiza. There, he will get married to Hermoso. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Luis Rubiales then enters the dressing room. He tells players that the FA will pay for a trip to Ibiza, and that is where he will marry Jenni Hermoso. The footage was posted on Salma Paralluelo&apos;s Instagram Live.<a href="https://t.co/UpJojODnh6">https://t.co/UpJojODnh6</a></p>— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Millar_Colin/status/1693316881124343924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>A Spanish FA spokesperson tried to provide some context on the incident in a comment to the AFP.</p>



<p>“It’s a spontaneous celebration that happened like that, the two are good friends.”</p>



<h2>Spain FA chief defends actions after World Cup</h2>



<p>Rubiales joined Marca after the celebrations to give <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/20/football/jennifer-hermoso-luis-rubiales-rfef-womens-world-cup-spt-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">his own comments</a> on the situation. Yet, he also made it seem like a nothing-story.</p>



<p>“The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots all over. When two people have a moment of affection without any importance, we can’t listen to idiocy. We’re champions and I stay with that.”</p>



<p>Viewers took great exception with Rubiales’s behavior toward the team. Most of the criticism on social media pointed toward Rubiales taking the moment away from the players who achieved their greatest sporting goals. This was Spain’s first time in a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-world-cup-tv-schedule/">Women’s World Cup</a> Final, and the squad showed that it was a class above the other nations at this year’s tournament.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo</em></p>


Chief of Spain FA takes focus for bizarre World Cup moment

Luis Rubiales, the chief of the Spain FA, had a bizarre method of celebration after the women's team won the World Cup.

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Spain FA President Luis Rubiales resigns following Hermoso kiss

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Chief of Spain FA takes focus for bizarre World Cup moment