'Forced kiss'

The president of the Spanish Football Association, who kissed without the consent of the player at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Awards in Australia and New Zealand, is expected to resign.

AFP and U.S. sports media ESPN reported on the 25th that "Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Association, will submit his resignation to the association."

Earlier, President Rubiales attended the awards ceremony to celebrate the Spanish national team, which beat England 1-0 in the FIFA Australia-New Zealand Women's World Cup final in Sydney, Australia, on the 20th. While hugging and sharing joy with the players on the podium, he grabbed Hermoso's face with both hands and forcibly kissed him. Controversy over sexual harassment has erupted internationally due to unexpected actions that occurred without the consent of the player.

Hermoso later said during a live broadcast on social networking services (SNS) in the locker room, "I didn't feel good" about the situation, and on the 24th, he said through the union, "I will make sure that such an act is punished."

"I made a mistake," said Rubiales. He apologized, saying, "It was taken without malice at the moment of joy," but public opinion criticizing Chairman Rubiales did not fade.

Spanish politicians, as well as the Spanish Women's Soccer League, said, "President Rubiales defiled the World Cup victory. It is an unprecedented international disgrace to Spain, Spanish sports, and women's soccer around the world," he said, adding, "We need to disqualify him."

As the impact grew, with Amnesty International, a human rights group, also making a statement and FIFA also considering disciplinary action against Chairman Rubiales on the 24th, Chairman Rubiales seems to be stepping down on his own.

However, AFP said, "The Spanish Football Association did not answer when asked whether President Rubiales would resign." 스포츠토토