Spanish football chief's mother begins hunger strike as investigation opens into kissing scandal
Rubiales admitted to making a mistake but contended that the kiss was consensual. Photo: Getty Images
Luis Rubiales's mother has embarked on a hunger strike to support her son, who is facing an investigation by prosecutors in relation to a kissing incident. During an awards ceremony after Spain's victory in the Women's World Cup on August 20, Luis Rubiales, the President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, kissed Spanish football player Jennifer Hermoso. As a result of this incident, FIFA provisionally suspended Luis Rubiales for 90 days due to the scandal.
In a show of solidarity, Luis Rubiales's mother, Ángeles Béjar, has taken refuge in the Divina Pastora church in Motril, southern Spain, where she has begun a hunger strike on Monday.
The mother of Luis Rubiales, the Spanish football chief who kissed Jenni Hermoso, has locked herself in a church and gone on hunger strike in support of her son.
— Pop Base (@PopBase) August 29, 2023
She claims the hunger strike is in protest of the ‘inhumane treatment’ her son is receiving. pic.twitter.com/liMjSyr4TR
Speaking to Spanish news agency EFE, she expressed her determination to remain in the church "day and night," continuing her hunger strike "indefinitely," until justice is served for her son. She pledged to continue her protest until the "inhuman, bloodthirsty witch hunt that my son is being subjected to" concludes. Her protest coincided with the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office initiating an investigation into Luis Rubiales' actions, which has given Hermoso the opportunity to file a complaint against him for sexual assault.
Following this unanticipated kissing scandal, Luis Rubiales's reputation is hanging in the balance, as he faces a provisional suspension by FIFA for 90 days.
Incident details
This development arises shortly after Luis Rubiales, aged 46, who headed the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), kissed midfielder Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the Women's World Cup awards ceremony on August 20 in Sydney, after Spain's victory against England.
🎙️#FIFA Disciplinary Committee Suspends Spanish Federation President Luis #Rubiales for 90 Days for Kissing a Football Player Without Her Consent
— NATO🇺🇸 VS KREMLIN🇷🇺 (@eduinfotech101) August 26, 2023
During the award ceremony, Rubiales kissed soccer player Jennifer #Hermoso on the lips.#WWC2023 #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/XzzJAqn7Hi
Jennifer Hermoso asserted that she did not give her consent for the kiss and voiced her sentiment on social media, stating, "I felt vulnerable and like a victim of an impulsive, sexist, inappropriate act that I did not agree to. To put it simply, I was not respected." Hermoso emphasized that she did not permit the kiss and felt violated.
Rubiales admitted to making a mistake but contended that the kiss was consensual. He defended his actions by describing the kiss as "spontaneous, mutual, euphoric, and (done) with consent."
Rubiales has faced condemnation for his actions. The Spanish players' union FUTPRO called for disciplinary action against Rubiales after the incident. Meanwhile, the global players' union FIFPRO urged for "immediate disciplinary action" following Rubiales' speech on Friday. In his speech, Rubiales was expected to announce his resignation, but instead, he stated that he would not step down.
In response to Rubiales' decision to remain in his position, the RFEF vice president Rafael del Amo and 11 members of the Spanish national women's football program resigned. Spain's victorious women's football team declared that they would not represent Spain again until Luis Rubiales was removed from his role.