The regional presidents of the Spanish Football Association are demanding the immediate resignation of Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales following his controversial kiss with player Jenni Hermoso after Spain were crowned the 2023 FIFA Women's champions. There has been widespread criticism of Rubiales ever since the moment he kissed the forward slightly over a week ago and has even been suspended by FIFA. The Spanish Football Federation regional presidents now want him to rescind his position.

In a statement, the federation has said: “Once the meeting of the Commission of Presidents of Regional and Territorial Federations of the RFEF has finished, the following agreements are unanimously made known to the world of football and society: After the latest events and the unacceptable behaviors that have seriously damaged the image of Spanish football, the presidents request Mr Luis Rubiales immediately present his resignation as president of the RFEF. We warmly congratulate the women's soccer team for their victory in the World Cup. We value the meaning and legacy of success for Spanish sport. We express our admiration and gratitude to an unrepeatable group of players and we extend our congratulations to all those who have built, over the years with determination, the growth of women's football. 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.”

Jenni Hermoso had on Thursday released a statement saying that she felt vulnerable and had been "a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out-of-place act without any consent on my part". Expectations were that Rubiales would resign from his role as Spanish FA president on Friday but he instead made a defiant speech, claiming he was the victim of a witch-hunt by "false feminists". His failure to resign forced the Spanish FA to call for an "extraordinary and urgent" meeting on Monday "to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself". Spanish FA's own request to be suspended by UEFA has been rejected after it complained the Spanish government was interfering in its affairs. 

The Rubiales crisis took a twisted turn yesterday after his mother Angeles Bejar, locked herself in a church in Motril, and refused to eat because of the "inhuman hunt" against her son. Prosecutors in Spain have opened up a preliminary investigation into Rubiales on the grounds that his kissing of Hermoso could constitute a crime of "sexual assault". The Prosecutor's Office has so far received a total of six complaints but is waiting for one from the player before opening an investigation. Spain's women's coaching staff with the exception of head coach Jorge Vilda, has resigned in protest of Rubiales' action. The World Cup-winning boss, however, is on record criticizing Rubiales and calling the kiss "inappropriate and unacceptable". Her assistant managers Montse Tome, Javier Lerga, and Eugenio Gonzalo Martin were among those who stood down from their positions. Others who resigned are Physiotherapist Blanca Romero Moraleda and goalkeeper coach Carlos Sanchez,  and another half a dozen others. 

Rubiales and the Spanish FA have been ordered by FIFA through Jorge Ivan Palacio who chairs the disciplinary committee to refrain from contacting or trying to reach Hermoso, either directly or through intermediaries. The player accused the Spanish Football Federation of a "manipulative, hostile and controlling culture" as 81 players signed a letter stating they would decline national team call-ups for as long as Rubiales remains in his position. Rubiales has, however, insisted that he is a victim of a "social assassination" and that he will not resign. 

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(Image: El Futbolero US)