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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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2 Fans Die in Chile before Copa Libertadores Match between Colo Colo, Fortaleza

Fences lying down on the street are seen after a group of Colo-Colo's fans tried to force their way into the stadium during the Copa Libertadores group stage football match between Chile's Colo Colo and Brazil's Fortaleza at the Monumental David Arellano stadium in Santiago, on April 10, 2025. (Photo by Javier TORRES / AFP)
Fences lying down on the street are seen after a group of Colo-Colo's fans tried to force their way into the stadium during the Copa Libertadores group stage football match between Chile's Colo Colo and Brazil's Fortaleza at the Monumental David Arellano stadium in Santiago, on April 10, 2025. (Photo by Javier TORRES / AFP)
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2 Fans Die in Chile before Copa Libertadores Match between Colo Colo, Fortaleza

Fences lying down on the street are seen after a group of Colo-Colo's fans tried to force their way into the stadium during the Copa Libertadores group stage football match between Chile's Colo Colo and Brazil's Fortaleza at the Monumental David Arellano stadium in Santiago, on April 10, 2025. (Photo by Javier TORRES / AFP)
Fences lying down on the street are seen after a group of Colo-Colo's fans tried to force their way into the stadium during the Copa Libertadores group stage football match between Chile's Colo Colo and Brazil's Fortaleza at the Monumental David Arellano stadium in Santiago, on April 10, 2025. (Photo by Javier TORRES / AFP)

Two fans died on Thursday before the start of a Copa Libertadores match between the host Colo Colo and Fortaleza of Brazil near Santiago’s estadio Monumental, a local prosecutor said.
According to authorities, a group of fans attempted to force their way into the stadium and tore down one of the venue’s protective fences. The victims were reportedly trapped beneath them.
The match was later suspended in the 70th minute due to unruly fans, although it was not immediately clear if it was related to the earlier deaths.
The Eastern Flagrancy Prosecutor, Francisco Morales said that a group of fans tried to access the estadio Monumental through the Casa Alba, a building adjacent to the venue and the police tried to prevent them from entering.
“A stampede ensued, resulting in the collapse of a fence,” added Morales. “We are currently investigating whether a police vehicle was involved in the death.”
Authorities said one of the persons died at the scene and the other at a nearby medical clinic, The Associated Press reported.
Later, the match between Colo Colo and Fortaleza was suspended at the 70-minute mark, with the score level at 0-0, when a group of local fans started a protest by throwing objects onto the pitch. It was unclear whether the protests were related to the fan deaths before the match.
The Fortaleza players ran for cover in the locker room, while the Colo Colo players, led by captain Esteban Pavez and Arturo Vidal, tried to calm the fans.
The refereeing team, led by Uruguayan Gustavo Tejera, informed the players that the match had been stopped, and all the players went to the locker room. Later, it was announced that the match was officially suspended.
“CONMEBOL deeply regrets the death of two fans near the estadio Monumental before the start of the match between Colo Colo and Fortaleza,” said the governing body of soccer in South America. “We express our sincere condolences to their families and loved ones.”