- Luis Rubiales finally resigned as head of the Spanish Federation after the Kiss-Gate scandal.
- Spanish reports now claim that Rubiales pressured an employee to lie about the kiss.
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast Everything starts !
Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales allegedly pressured a Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) employee to lie about the Jenni Hermoso kiss-gate scandal.
Since winning the World Cup last month, Spanish football has endured a tumultuous and dramatic period after Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips the day after their final victory over England.
Rubiales – who claimed the kiss was consensual – ultimately resigned from his position despite initially refusing to do so, although he is fighting accusations of sexual assault and coercion.
Meanwhile, controversial former manager Jorge Vilda – who was closely linked to Rubiales and had offered the 46-year-old a new contract shortly before his resignation – was sacked from his role.
And, according to the Spanish media El ConfidentialRubiales pressured an employee of the RFEF communications department to testify that Hermoso had given consent to the kiss.
Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales allegedly pressured a Spanish football federation employee to lie about the Jenni Hermoso kiss-gate scandal.
Spanish football endured a tumultuous period after Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips the day after their World Cup final victory over England in August.
This testimony was used following the incident and meant that Rubiales was not initially removed from office.
The report then specifies that the RFEF is currently investigating these new allegations.
Rubiales has come under scrutiny following the incident with Hermoso, with protests against his presidency across Spain and high-profile figures calling for his resignation.
FIFA gave him an initial 90-day suspension and insisted he be suspended for longer, while the Spanish Football Federation publicly apologized for his behavior.
Hermoso filed a formal complaint earlier this month before returning to Mexico where she plays soccer for her club after claiming the kiss was not consensual and prosecutors announced they had filed their formal complaint with of a judge of the court of the Audiencia Nacional of Madrid.
Rubiales repeatedly insisted the kiss was consensual and described it as a “kiss.”
The former president of the Spanish FA finally resigned in a recent interview with Piers Morgan after weeks of criticism over his conduct.
He admitted in the interview that the kiss was “a mistake”, but insisted “there was no harm, no sexual content, no aggression”.
His resignation was ultimately confirmed in a lengthy statement in which Rubiales admitted he “could not return” to his role as president, but continued to insist that “many lies” had been spread about him.
Rubiales is also prohibited from contacting Hermoso or being within 200 meters of her.
Rubiales (left) ultimately announced he would be leaving his post in an exclusive interview with Piers Morgan (right), but continued to maintain his innocence and that the kiss was “consensual.”
Hermoso claimed the kiss was not consensual and filed a formal complaint earlier this month.
Angeles Bejar, Rubiales’ 72-year-old mother, went on a two-day hunger strike at a church in Motril, her son’s hometown, near Granada – which she said she launched to bring Jenni to “tell the truth” about the kiss – before she was rushed to hospital 48 hours after her protest began.
Under a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could be fined or imprisoned for one to four years if convicted of sexual assault.
Elsewhere, new Spain manager Montse Tome – who took over from Vilda – named his first squad since his arrival this week and included 15 of their World Cup winners, but not Hermoso.
Speaking after his team’s announcement, Tome said: “We are with Jenni and with all the players. As for Jenni, we thought the best way to protect her in this team was this way.