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.



Djokovic Motivated Again After Miami Run but Keeping Expectations Low 

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, serves to Jakub Mensik, of Czech Republic, in the men's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP)
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, serves to Jakub Mensik, of Czech Republic, in the men's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP)
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Djokovic Motivated Again After Miami Run but Keeping Expectations Low 

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, serves to Jakub Mensik, of Czech Republic, in the men's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP)
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, serves to Jakub Mensik, of Czech Republic, in the men's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP)

Novak Djokovic said reaching his first final of the 2025 season at the Miami Open helped him find the motivation to continue his quest for more titles as the 37-year-old looks to win his 100th ATP trophy during the clay season.

The 24-times Grand Slam champion has not won a title on the men's tour since his ATP Finals triumph during an extraordinary 2023 although he bagged the Olympic gold medal during the Paris Games at Roland Garros last year.

Djokovic's bid to join Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the only three men in the professional era to claim 100 or more ATP trophies ended in a defeat by Jakub Mensik last week but the Serb said he was spurred on by his level in Miami.

"There's no doubt it has become more difficult throughout my career but the performances in Miami, when I'm playing that way, it gives me more inspiration to keep going," Djokovic told reporters in Monte Carlo.

"It just feels great on the court when you're striking the ball well and winning matches. Obviously when you start losing early you have more questions and inner voices, which are bringing doubts about whether you should keep going.

"I'm glad in Miami I found that joy on the court and performance levels, so let's see if I can carry that into clay. It's a different surface and I've not had much time to get used to this tournament so my expectations aren't that high."

Djokovic will be without his coach Andy Murray at the ongoing Monte Carlo Masters, with the Scot expected to return in Madrid later this month.

"It was never part of the agreement to work with Andy this week," said Djokovic.

"I was thinking about who I wanted, anyone apart from my fitness coach and physio, and my brother Marko was able to join me, so that helps me on a different level emotionally."

Third-seed Djokovic could meet Stan Wawrinka in his opening match in Monaco.