Spanish football president Luis Rubiales resigns after kissing scandal

Luis Rubiales is stepping down as head of Spanish football – after pressure mounted following his kissing scandal during the Women’s World Cup.

The president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation – who has held the position since 2018 – has just publicly announced his resignation in an interview with Piers Morganwho asked if the backlash had become too big to ignore.

Rubiales confirmed his defiance that he was now starting to influence others and the organization as a whole and that he was becoming a distraction…so he’s throwing in the towel.

While he maintains his innocence – as he has done from the start – he says trying to maintain his position turned out to be more trouble than it was worth. After a clip of Piers’ seat was released, he confirmed on Twitter that he had passed the baton to the acting Prez.

In his lengthy statement, Rubiales says he plans to defend himself/his honor in the face of the ongoing fallout. Of course, this seems to refer to the criminal complaint that the soccer player Jennifer Hermoso herself filed with the Spanish authorities – alleging sexual assault.

Spanish prosecutors have already stated this takes him to court to stand trial. If convicted, he could face a fine and/or up to four years in prison.

Rubiales apologized for the incident shortly after it happened – saying he was swept up in the moment … but later suggested it was a consensual kiss, despite Hermoso saying otherwise.

He was eventually suspended and was actually the team’s head coach was fired for defending Rubiales – in which he praised the fact that Rubiales refused to resign. It’s perhaps not that surprising… the team had said they wouldn’t take the field until he was gone.