Spain football chief to resign after unsolicited Hermoso kiss

Spain's football chief Luis Rubiales pictured kissing Jenni Hermoso after the Spanish female national team beat England to the Women's World Cup title on Sunday. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

According to sources who spoke with ESPN's Rodrigo Faez, Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), intends to step down on Friday after FIFA initiated disciplinary action against him for his unwanted kiss with midfielder Jenni Hermoso.

Since his actions following Spain's victory over England in the World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday, Rubiales' situation has grown more precarious. Although Hermoso's forceful kiss on the lips made headlines, he was also spotted giving other Spain players warm hugs and kisses on the cheek.

Prior to that, as Queen Letizia of Spain and 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofa watched, he had also made a triumphant gesture by grabbing his crotch shortly after Spain's victory.

When people criticized Rubiales' actions, he initially called them "idiots," but as the criticism grew, he eventually published an apology. Many people, including government officials, demanded his resignation after the episode caused uproar both inside and outside of Spain.

As pressure mounted on Rubiales to resign, Pedro Sánchez, Spain's acting prime minister, deemed the apology "insufficient and inadequate." Yolanda Dáz, the second deputy prime minister in temporary charge, demanded that Rubiales "resign" from his position as a result of his conduct.

Powerful figures in Spanish sport and government expressed similar sentiments. The minister for equality, Irene Montero, called it a "form of sexual violence," and clubs also commented on the matter.

The pressure increased throughout the next week as a result of FIFA initiating disciplinary action against Rubiales and Hermoso's assertion that such actions "should never go unpunished" in a joint statement with her union.

First to call for Rubiales' resignation in writing was lower-league team Sant Andreu, while Getafe president Angel Torres denounced his "deplorable behavior" and claimed he shouldn't hold the position of RFEF president "for even a minute more."

Megan Rapinoe, a forward for the United States, criticizes' its actions on a global scale, saying they reveal a "deep level of misogyny and sexism in that federation and in that man.