Things are getting more dramatic in the viral kissing scandal involving the Spanish FA president, Luis Rubiales and the country’s 2023 Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermosos.
Recall that the FA president became a global topic when he was caught on camera planting a kiss on the lips of Hermosos during the 2023 Women’s World Cup medals presentation after the Spanish women defeated England to win the tournament for the first time in their history.
He was seen holding his groin in the VIP section of Stadium Australia while standing next to the queen of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter immediately after the final whistle of the World Cup.
Due to the incident, the world football governing body, FIFA, has suspended him for 90 days as they continue to take disciplinary measures against him.
Also, top officials of the FA, some coaching staff of the women’s team, and over 81 players have bowed out of national team football until Luis Rubiales is punished.
The new twist to the saga is that Luis Rubiales’ mother, Angeles Bejar has commenced a hunger strike to protest the “inhuman witch-hunt” of the FA president.
Bejar who is a former hairdresser started her protest at the Divina Pastora de Motril church in the Andalucia coastal resort which is located in Motril east of Malaga where the suspended Spanish FA president, Luis Rubiales, had his upbringing.
According to reports in Spain, the mother of the 46-year-old football administrator has vowed to continue her protest until her son is vindicated.
Bejar who believes that Rubiales kissed Hermoso consensually just like his son claimed urged the 2023 Women’s World Cup winner to tell the world the truth about the incident.
Meanwhile, Spain’s top criminal court has opened a preliminary investigation into the saga as the prosecutors attempt to determine whether the incident amounts to a crime of sexual assault.
“Given the public statements made by Jennifer Hermoso, the sexual act she was subjected to by (Luis) Rubiales was not consensual,” a statement from the prosecutors read.
The prosecutors will also contact the player “to offer her the option of legal action, giving her the chance to contact National Court prosecutors within 15 days for information about her rights as a victim of an alleged sexual assault should she wish to file a complaint”.
