Luis Rubiales resigns as President of Spanish FA

Luis Rubiales has resigned as president of the Spanish Football Association (FA) following the World Cup kiss controversy he’s been enmeshed in.

The move came three weeks after the 46-year-old, who is facing criminal charges in Spain, defiantly rejected calls to step aside, insisting that the player had consented to the kiss. The scandal soured celebrations over the nation’s first triumph in the tournament and highlighted gender inequality in both Spain and in the world’s most popular sport.

Announcing his resignation, Luis Rubiales said in a statement;

“Today, at 9:30pm, I have submitted my resignation from the position of President of the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) to the Acting President, Mr Pedro Rocha. I have also informed him that I have taken the same step regarding my position at UEFA so that my role in the Vice Presidency can be replaced.

“After the quick suspension carried out by FIFA along with the ongoing proceedings against me, it is evident that I will not be able to return to my position. Insisting on remaining in limbo and clinging to it will not contribute to anything positive, neither for the Federation nor for Spanish football.”

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) also confirmed that Luis Rubiales has resigned as chief of the Spanish Football Association as well as vice president of UEFA.

The RFEF released a statement which read;

“The Royal Spanish Football Federation confirms that Luis M. Rubiales Béjar has presented his resignation tonight. This has been made known to the federative entity through a letter to Pedro Rocha Junco.”

Rubiales also resigned from his post as vice-president of UEFA, the European governing body of football.

Recall that the e 46-year-old Spaniard was provisionally suspended by global governing body FIFA for 90 days while a disciplinary investigation takes place. Pedro Rocha stepped into the role in the interim.