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Spanish Regional Bosses Call on Rubiales to Resign in Kiss Furor

Football - Spanish Soccer Federation Meeting - Ciudad Del Futbol Las Rozas, Las Rozas, Spain - August 25, 2023 President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales during the meeting. (RFEF/Handout via Reuters)
Football - Spanish Soccer Federation Meeting - Ciudad Del Futbol Las Rozas, Las Rozas, Spain - August 25, 2023 President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales during the meeting. (RFEF/Handout via Reuters)
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Spanish Regional Bosses Call on Rubiales to Resign in Kiss Furor

Football - Spanish Soccer Federation Meeting - Ciudad Del Futbol Las Rozas, Las Rozas, Spain - August 25, 2023 President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales during the meeting. (RFEF/Handout via Reuters)
Football - Spanish Soccer Federation Meeting - Ciudad Del Futbol Las Rozas, Las Rozas, Spain - August 25, 2023 President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales during the meeting. (RFEF/Handout via Reuters)

Regional representatives of the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) have demanded the immediate resignation of the body's chief Luis Rubiales - but stopped short of calling for a motion of no confidence - for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the World Cup.

The Federation's move came as the situation has spiraled into a national row over women's rights, macho behavior and sexual abuse with many acting ministers asking for Rubiales to leave.

Many of the federation representatives had applauded Rubiales when he announced on Friday he would not quit, but late on Monday asked him to step down and called for a restructuring of key positions in the federation "to allow for a new phase of management in Spanish football" with more gender equality.

"Following recent events and the unacceptable behavior that has seriously damaged Spanish football's image, the (regional) presidents demand that Luis Rubiales immediately resign," the representatives said in a statement.

The about-turn at the federation followed the opening of a preliminary probe by the High Court prosecutor on whether Rubiales might have committed an act of sexual aggression and piled pressure on Rubiales.

He was suspended by FIFA from all soccer-related activities for three months on Saturday amid a furor over the incident at the presentation ceremony following Spain's Women's World Cup win in Sydney on Aug. 20.

Rubiales, 46, has refused to step down, saying the kiss - which took place in a live broadcast - was consensual.

His mother is holed up in a church in the family's hometown of Motril and has started a hunger strike in support of her son.

A few dozen residents of Motril on Monday gathered outside the church, shouting, clapping and holding up signs in support of Rubiales and his mother. "Stop hunt against Rubiales, enough!", read one of the signs.

Some residents said calls for Rubiales to step down were an "excessive" punishment.

"We are talking about a little kiss, he didn't kill anyone," Amparo Macias said.

Hermoso, her team mates and the Spanish government say the kiss was unwanted and demeaning.

Acting Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz demanded the dismissal of the head coaches of both the men's and women's national teams.

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NBA Postpones Game Between Lakers and Hornets Due to Wildfires in LA Area

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
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NBA Postpones Game Between Lakers and Hornets Due to Wildfires in LA Area

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP

The NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area.
It was the second straight day a game slated to be played in downtown Los Angeles was postponed, The Associated Press reported. The NHL's Los Angeles Kings were scheduled to host the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.
The dates for the rescheduled games have not been announced. The Kings said tickets for their postponed game against Calgary will be good for the rescheduled date.
Several major fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex following two days of extraordinary winds. A major threat broke out Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, close to the heart of the entertainment industry, but had been contained by Thursday morning.
Roughly 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, and the fires have consumed about 45 square miles (117 square kilometers) — roughly the size of San Francisco. The Palisades Fire is already the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history.
NFL playoffs The Los Angeles Rams sent out a statement to season ticket holders and fans Thursday morning reiterating that Monday night's NFC wild-card round postseason game against the Minnesota Vikings remains set to be played as scheduled at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
The NFL said Wednesday evening if the game had to be moved, it would take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home of the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2003, the league moved a Monday night regular-season game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, due to wildfires.
The Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers both train in areas not threatened by fires, but both teams are monitoring the air quality and its potential impact on their workouts.
The Chargers changed their practice schedule Wednesday to minimize their players’ outdoor time in coastal El Segundo. The Chargers are leaving after practice on Thursday for Houston and their AFC wild-card matchup against the Texans on Saturday.
Coach Jim Harbaugh had the Chargers’ offensive and defensive units practice separately to limit their time on the field. The air quality at the team’s complex was 185 on Wednesday. Anything above 150 is considered unhealthy.
The Rams held their first practice on Thursday but canceled their player media availability so everybody could go home quickly. Their headquarters are in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood located about 13 miles north of fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades but separated by the Santa Monica Mountains.
NBA Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard abruptly left the team before its game at Denver on Wednesday because of what the team described as personal reasons. Leonard bought a house in Pacific Palisades in 2021.
“You definitely have to take care of home. ... Totally had my support 100 percent,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”
The West Coast Conference postponed women's basketball games scheduled for Thursday night at Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.
Pepperdine was scheduled to face Portland at Firestone Field House on the school’s Malibu campus. Pepperdine canceled classes Wednesday, and access to its coastal campus was restricted.
Loyola Marymount had its game against San Diego postponed as a precautionary measure due to air quality concerns inside Gersten Pavilion while the facility is being renovated.
Horse racing Santa Anita Park postponed Friday's racing program until Jan. 16 because of poor air quality forecast in Arcadia, near the Eaton Fire.
The California Horse Racing Board approved the rescheduling of the 10-race card, which will be run with the horses previously entered.
“While Santa Anita continues to remain well outside of any active fire area, the smoke from the wildfires is affecting all of Los Angeles County,” track general manager Nate Newby said. “We also want to respect the impact that this tragedy has had on many of our community, including our horsemen and women and our own Santa Anita team, who have been devastated by these fires.”
A decision on Saturday and Sunday's racing will be made Friday.
The track was handing out N-95 masks to all backstretch and frontside workers as well as protective eyewear because of the smoke.
Golf The PGA Tour has not decided whether to play the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, scheduled for Feb. 13-16.
Riviera, which will host golf in the 2028 Olympics, is in the Pacific Palisades community and was part of the evacuation order. In a memo to players Thursday, the tour said the course was not directly affected by the fire. Golf tournaments require building hospitality tents around the course.
Tiger Woods is the host of the tournament, a signature event with a $20 million purse.
Soccer Ali Riley, a defender for Angel City in the National Women's Soccer League who also plays for the New Zealand national team, said her family's home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.
Riley posted a photo on Instagram of the devastated neighborhood with an arrow pointing to where the house once stood.
"I was there Monday night eating dinner. Hanging with mom and dad. Watched the sunset," she wrote. “And now it's gone forever.”