Luis Rubiales refused to resign as president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Friday, and said he will “fight to the end” after a week of growing pressure following his unsolicited kiss of Spain player Jenni Hermoso.
Rubiales, 46, announced the surprise move — after widespread reports that he planned to quit — in a speech in which he attempted to justify his behaviour, and lashed out at critics, during an extraordinary meeting of the federation’s general assembly.
The president of Spain’s Sports Council (CSD) and its Secretary of State for Sport, Victor Francos, subsequently confirmed the CSD would take action against Rubiales, bringing a case to Spain’s Administrative Sports Court
“Do you think this [incident] is so serious that I should go, after the best management in the history of Spanish football?” Rubiales said. “Let me tell you: I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign.
“I’ve come under a lot of pressure. Perhaps somebody will look to remove me on Monday. But we live in a country of laws. Is a consensual kiss enough to remove me? I’m going to fight until the end. I hope the law is followed, and that as there’s no reason to [remove me], it won’t happen.”