Under fire Spanish FA boss Luis Rubiales broke cover to collect his mother from hospital after she fell ill on a hunger strike to support him.
Spanish media reported that Rubiales had personally come to pick up his mother in the early hours of Thursday morning and they had slipped out through a back door.
His mother had been hospitalized after her three-day hunger strike.
Former hairdresser Angeles Bejar, 72, was rushed to the victim Wednesday evening just minutes before she was due to give a press conference.
She had locked herself in the 300-year-old Divina Pastora church in Motril, near Malaga, for three days in protest of what she called the “witch hunt” against her son.
He has been embroiled in controversy for over ten days after kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips following their win at the Women’s World Cup in Sydney.
The mother of embattled Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales has been released from hospital following a health crisis sparked by a three-day hunger strike at a church.
Rubiales has been suspended for an initial 90 days by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee after his conduct during the final of the Women’s World Cup in which he kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips.
Angeles was taken by ambulance to Sant Ana Hospital in Motril and given fluids and medicines before being discharged just before midnight after six hours of monitoring.
It was unclear where she was Thursday morning.
She is believed to have left the hospital around 11:30pm on Wednesday and is now expected to keep a low profile while her health is checked.
Pastor Father Antonio had told the waiting press on Wednesday afternoon that the retired hairdresser would briefly leave the church for the second time to speak publicly since she began her hunger strike.
But around her scheduled departure time of 6:30 p.m., he came out to make the shocking announcement that she had been taken to hospital instead.
Father Antonio, who declined to give his last name, said on Wednesday afternoon: “Angeles is getting worse and that is why they had to rush her to the hospital.
“She’s not at church anymore.
“She was really bad and already had a lot of problems but it got even worse and she had a panic attack, saying she felt very haunted and dizzy and very strange.
“She left about 6:15 p.m. through a back door of the church.
“She was still not eating and was drinking only water and isotonic drinks, but I understand she will have to break her hunger strike now.
“I don’t know if she is now accompanied by relatives and how she ended up in the hospital, because I didn’t see an ambulance.
But Luis Rubiales talked to her before she went, and between several family members, they decided that Angeles needed to go to the hospital.
‘It’s an older lady. Her feet were already swollen, but this afternoon it got even worse and she became very nervous. She’s not coming back here, even if she gets better.’
The dramatic new twist sparked a new chapter in the ongoing ‘Kissgate’ scandal – sparked by suspended Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after the Spanish team defeated England in the final just over a week ago of the Women’s World Cup.
The church where Angeles Bejar was on hunger strike is located in the Rubiales family’s hometown of Motril, east of Malaga and south of Granada, on Spain’s southern coast.
Hermoso appears to be showing off a meme on her phone comparing her being kissed by Rubiales to former Spain international Iker Casillas locking lips with reporter Sara Carbonero
Jenni has refuted claims by Rubiales that the kiss was consensual, leading to his mother’s shock decision to go on a hunger strike at her local church Monday morning following his provisional FIFA suspension and a wave of condemnation over his actions inside and beyond the football world.
She had said on Tuesday she was willing to die to seek justice, urging Jenni to “tell the truth” about the kiss that would seal the end of her son’s career.
Referring to the player from church on Tuesday night, she said, “I just want the truth to be told.
“She knows my son is very honest. If she tells the truth, everything will be all right.’
Referring to the World Cup kiss that led to the so-called ‘Kissgate’ scandal, she added: ‘It was an anecdote, as she said herself, and look how far it’s gone.
“She must have a conscience and act accordingly.
“My son is very worried and has asked me not to continue, to stop, but I will stay here until I drop and my body can continue.”
In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday morning, the UN Human Rights Office endorsed the star of the Women’s World Cup and “all those who are committed to ending abuse and sexism in sport.”