World Cup kiss saga: Rubiales blows hot, says no to resignation

The president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales is blowing hot as he has refused to resign. The 46-year-old had received series of backlash after his misconduct during the Women’s World Cup final. Many were expecting him to resign on Friday, but he is now ready to fight till the end.

After Spain beat England in the Women’s World Cup final last Sunday, Rubiales sparked huge outcry during the medal presentation ceremony when he grabbed Jenni Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips.

Rubialis kiss gesture to Hermoso has since generated series of backlash

Hermoso has condemned the act when she said that she ‘did not like’ the gesture from Rubiales.

The FA president who initially hit out at his critics eventually apologised on Monday.

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Hermoso who refused repeated requests to appear in the video had later confirmed that she would be pursuing action against the RFEF president.

Rubiales was expected to announce his resignation on Friday but he instead offered a defiant message during his press conference.

‘The time has come to say something. I was wrong and it was not the time to make that gesture. Is it serious enough for me to leave? I am not going to resign. I am not going to resign. I am not going to resign,’ Rubiales said.

‘I’m going to fight until the end.

‘Politicians have referred to this action as sexual violence, without consent, assault… these people are trying to assassinate me publicly and I am going to defend myself like all Spaniards, in court. I will take action against these people.

‘I want to give my explanation about the peck, it was a peck. The desire that I could have giving that kiss was the same desire that I could have giving my daughter a kiss, here there was no dominance.

‘It was spontaneous, mutual and consensual. It was consensual. I have a great relationship with all the players and we had very affectionate moments in this tournament. The moment Jenni appeared, she picked me up from the ground and when she left me we hugged and I told her forget about the penalty, you’ve been fantastic in this World Cup and she told me you’re a star, and it happened.

‘Here they are not trying to do justice, they are doing a social murder.

‘For five years they have been after me with everything. Complaints, lawsuits and requests for me to step down. False feminism does not seek the truth, it seeks to portray itself that it is moving us forward. They do not care about people.’

Rubiales also apologised after he grabbed his testicles whilst celebrating the victory in the VIP box next to Spain’s Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter Sofia.

‘I want to apologise for an event that occurred in the box. I am going to explain it because I was looking at Jorge Vilda [Spain Women’s manager]. We have been through a lot together, and they have wanted to do to you the same thing that they are doing to me now, they are trying to create a false version of events and turn it into reality.

‘I was very emotional after we won the World Cup and you [Vilda] turned around and dedicated the win to me.

‘There I made the gesture, I apologise to Her Majesty the Queen. I have never behaved like this in a box before. I do not justify myself, sorry.’