Spanish football chief Rubiales' mother goes on hunger strike

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Aug 2023 16:08

The Spanish government asks Spain's Sports Tribunal (TAD) to suspend Rubiales, a request due to be discussed at a TAD meeting on Monday.

RFEF President Luis Rubiales during a general assembly of the federation in Las Rozas de Madrid, on August 25, 2023. (AFP)

Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales' mother has announced going on a hunger strike due to the "inhuman hunt" against her son in light of the criticism following his kiss of forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain's Women's World Cup final win.

His mother, Angeles Bejar, locked herself in the Divina Pastora church in Motril, telling Spanish news agency EFE that the strike would be "indefinite, day and night", which comes after star player Hermoso claimed that the kiss in Sydney on August 20 was not consensual.

On Friday, Rubiales vowed he would not resign but he was suspended by the world football's governing body FIFA a day later.

In response, Rubiales slammed "false feminism" and a "social assassination" of his character as he vowed to continue as president of Spain's football federation (RFEF) in the face of fierce criticism. "I will not resign," he stated unequivocally. "I will fight this to the end."

Spanish media gathered outside the church on the southern Spanish coast where Rubiales was raised, as his mother said that the "inhuman and bloody hunt that they are doing with my son is something he does not deserve".

His cousin Vanessa Ruiz, who is the acting family spokesperson, said: "We are suffering a lot for him. He has been judged before his time," adding: "They (media) don't stop harassing us. We had to leave our house. We want them to leave us alone and for Jenni to tell the truth. It's not fair."

The Spanish government has called for Spain's Sports Tribunal (TAD) to suspend the football chief, which is a request due to being discussed at a TAD meeting on Monday, while the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has also urged and invited regional federations to an "extraordinary and urgent" meeting on Monday "to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself".

On Saturday, FIFA ordered Rubiales, the RFEF, and its officials not to try and contact Hermoso, who is facing threats of legal action from the RFEF.

Hermoso said Rubiales's detailing of the scandal was "categorically" incorrect, adding, "I want to reiterate as I did before that I did not like this incident."

She further explained that she was urged to state the incident to "alleviate the pressure" on Rubiales, saying she had been "under continuous pressure to make a statement that could justify Mr. Luis Rubiales’ actions."

“Not only that but in different ways and through different people, the RFEF has pressured my surroundings (family, friends, teammates, etc.) to give a testimony that had little or nothing to do with my feelings," she underlined.