[ad_1]

Luis Rubiales resigned as president of the Spanish Football Federation on Sunday following weeks of criticism for kissing a national soccer team player on the lips following their Women’s World Cup win.

Driving the news: Rubiales could face criminal charges after both player Jenni Hermoso and a Spanish prosecutor last week filed legal complaints accusing him of sexual assault and coercion for the kiss that Rubiales said was “consensual,” but the 33-year-old World Cup winner said was nonconsensual.

• Spanish football federation’s regional leaders asked him to resign late last month and soccer’s world governing body FIFA suspended him over the matter.

What he’s saying: “I will defend my honorability. I will defend my innocence,” Rubiales said in an online post announcing his resignation Sunday.

• “After the quick suspension carried out by FIFA, plus the rest of open proceedings against me, it is evident that I will not be able to return to my position,” he added.
• “Insisting on waiting and holding on is not going to contribute to anything positive, neither to the federation nor to Spanish football.”

Go deeper: Spain coach Jorge Vilda fired in fallout of Rubiales’ unwanted World Cup kiss

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with more comment from Luis Rubiales and further context.

[ad_2]

Source link