- Spanish federation chief refuses to resign over kiss scandal

Spanish football federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales faced a confrontation with the government after he refused to resign following his kiss on the lips of soccer player Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s World Cup victory. Rubiales addressed the issue at an emergency assembly, defending the kiss as a “little peck” that was consensual and spontaneous. He expressed his determination to fight and not step down, receiving applause from the predominantly male audience. The government announced its intention to take the incident to a sport tribunal, where Rubiales could potentially face trial under a sexual violence law. Acting Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz condemned Rubiales’s speech as “unacceptable” and called for urgent action from the government. Rubiales claimed that Hermoso initiated physical contact by lifting him off the ground, and he asked for permission to give her a peck, which she agreed to. Criticism of Rubiales’s behavior grew throughout the week, with FIFA initiating disciplinary proceedings against him. Rubiales initially responded defiantly but later apologized for his actions. As his apology failed to gain traction, regional leaders of the RFEF held a crisis meeting to discuss Rubiales’s future and potential successors.