Luis Rubiales to resign as RFEF president after Jenni Hermoso World Cup kiss controversy

Luis Rubiales is to resign from his position as president of the Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF) on Friday. The 46-year-old has succumb to growing public pressure to step down after forcibly kissing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso in the celebrations following La Roja’s 2023 Women’s World Cup final win over England on Sunday.

Rubiales, who has held his post since 2018, initially had no intention of resigning but has ultimately changed his mind, with his departure from his role agreed on Thursday afternoon after a meeting with representatives of several regional Spanish soccer federations.

FIFA open disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales

The RFEF had called an emergency AGM for Friday, which many felt hinted at the possibility of Rubiales leaving his position as president. As well as FIFA opening disciplinary proceedings against him, regional federations around Spain had started to turn, with the president of the Basque federation publicly announcing he wouldn’t be attending the AGM. In addition, some professional clubs, including Real Sociedad, revealed they had refused to send a representative.

Acting Spain president Pedro Sánchez: “Unacceptable behaviour”

A number of other powerful figures, both within and outside soccer, had demanded Rubiales resign, including Spain’s current acting President Pedro Sánchez: “There has been some unacceptable behaviour that shows that in our country there is still a long way to go in terms of equality, respect and equal rights for women. Mr. Rubiales’ apologies are not enough, nor are they adequate. He must continue to take steps to clarify what has occurred”.

Cuca Gamarra, Secretary-General of Spain’s People’s Party, described Rubiales’ attitude as “embarrassing” and demanded there be “consequences”. Miguel Ángel Galán (the president of Cenafe, the Spanish national school for soccer coaches), Spanish political party Sumar, Liga F (Spain’s top female professional league) and Spanish referee Xavier Estrada Fernández have all filed official complaints about the RFEF president, requesting Spain’s National Sports Council, and the Federation itself, take action against him.

What controversies has Rubiales been involved in as RFEF president?

Rubiales was voted in as RFEF president on 17 May 2018, replacing Ángel Villar. On 21 September 2020 he was re-elected unopposed, with his current term due to end in 2024.

His five years at the helm have been marred by a number of controversies, such as moving the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia, which included business dealings with then-Barcelona player Gerard Piqué, a “work” trip to New York paid for by the RFEF on which he falsely claimed to have had meetings with MLS and the United Nations, and leaked audios in which he was heard criticising different Spanish clubs, including Atlético Madrid, Sevilla and Villarreal.

Since 2019, he has been Vice-President of the UEFA Executive Committee, becoming an increasingly important figure within European soccer’s governing body.