Following criticism for kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso during the Women’s World Cup final presentation ceremony, Luis Rubiales has resigned as head of the Spanish Football Federation.
Hermoso, 33, said the kiss after Spain defeated England was not voluntary and on Tuesday she launched a lawsuit.
In a statement, Rubiales said he had given the federation’s acting president Pedro Rocha notice of his resignation.
He admitted to Piers Morgan on his television programme that “I cannot continue my work.”
Additionally, the 46-year-old quit his job as vice-president of the Uefa executive committee.
Spain’s World Cup victory has been overshadowed by the aftermath from the kiss in recent weeks, with Rubiales defying repeated calls for his resignation.
Following Hermoso’s testimony on Tuesday, a prosecutor complained against Rubiales to Spain’s supreme court on Friday for sexual assault and coercion.
Despite Rubiales’ claims that the kiss was “mutual and “consensual,” Fifa has temporarily barred him from sport.
According to Rubiales’ statement, “I will not be able to return to my position after the swift suspension carried out by Fifa, plus the other open proceedings against me.”
“Insisting on waiting and holding on is not going to contribute to anything positive, neither for the federation nor for Spanish football.”
