Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales will REFUSE to resign over World Cup ‘kiss-gate’ as he plans another apology to ease political pressure to quit

Spain’s FA president Luis Rubiales will not bow to the pressure and resign from his role within the country’s governing football body, according to reports, after sparking massive controversy by kissing Jenni Hermoso on the mouth and giving the impression that he grabbed his crotch as he celebrated Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory. .

The 46-year-old faced calls to quit following his stage actions, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez demanding an explanation for the official’s actions.

Rubiales will appear before the Spanish Football Federation on Friday after an emergency meeting was held where he will receive questions about the World Cup fiasco.

A press release calling for a meeting said: ‘The Royal Spanish Football Federation urgently convenes an extraordinary general meeting for this Friday, August 25, starting at 12 noon, at the headquarters of the Ciudad del Fútbol de las Rozas. .’

However, Rubiales has no plans to step down and is instead seeking to continue as FA president, as reported by IF.

Rubiales (right) kissed Jenni Hermoso (left) after the recent Women’s World Cup final

Instead, he’ll apologize again for his actions and try to give a reason for his shocking display of affection that Hermoso revealed she “didn’t like.”

Rubiales is looking for a UEFA representative to support his bid to stay in his role and to continue as president, despite complaints being made against him to the FA.

USWNT star Megan Rapinoe was the latest high-profile figure to join the discussion on Wednesday when she addressed the “deep level of misogyny and sexism” caused by Rubiales’ behavior.

The 38-year-old hit Rubiales further for grabbing his crotch while standing next to 16-year-old Infanta Sofia, the daughter of the King and Queen of Spain, in the VVIP section of Stadium Australia.

Rapinoe said: “There was another image that signals such a deep level of misogyny and sexism in that federation and in that man (Rubiales) who just grabs his crotch at the final whistle.

‘What kind of upside-down world are we in? On the biggest stage, where you should be celebrating, Jenni (Hermoso) has to be physically assaulted by this man.”

Rubiales met presidents of the territorial federations on Tuesday to seek their continued support for him, but left the meeting empty-handed.

It is clear that those present did not sign a joint letter expressing their support for the pressured executive, with some representatives missing.

Rubiales has already apologized via video address, but initially downplayed the seriousness of the kiss

The Las Palmas-born official has already publicly apologized, admitting he made a “mistake”.

“There’s also something I regret, and it’s about something that happened between a female player and myself, who have as wonderful a relationship as I do with other female players. I must have made a mistake and I must admit it.’

Rubiales (center) prepares to appear before the Spanish federation at a meeting on Friday

He continued, “In a moment of maximum excitement, without any ill intent or bad faith, what happened happened in a very spontaneous manner, I repeat, with no bad faith on either side.

“We didn’t really understand what happened next, because we saw it as something normal and natural, but it has caused controversy in some sectors and some people seem to be upset, so I have to apologize.

“Moreover, I must learn from this and understand that when someone is president of an institution as important as the Spanish Football Federation, he should be more careful in events such as ceremonies.”

However, it is expected that he will have to give a more detailed account of his reasons behind kissing Hermoso at Friday’s meeting.