Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has resigned after he kissed a player following the country’s Women’s World Cup win.
Mr Rubiales, who was suspended by football’s governing body FIFA over the kiss, said in an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV that he was stepping down because he “cannot continue my work”.
His decision comes after the Spanish football federation previously called for him to resign.
Asked what led him to make the decision to quit, Mr Rubiales said: “My father, my daughters, I spoke with them… Some friends, very close to me, say ‘Luis, you have to focus on your dignity and to continue your life, because you probably know that you are going to damage people you love and the sport you love’.
“But this is more a question of not only me, the attitude of me can affect third parties that are very important.”
Mr Rubiales also posted a document on X, formerly known as Twitter, confirming he had handed in his resignation to the acting president of the Spanish football federation Pedro Rocha.
He said he had also resigned as one of UEFA’s vice presidents.
In the statement, he said the suspension by FIFA and other proceedings means he cannot return to the role he held for more than five years and that trying to hold on to the position would not contribute to “anything positive”.
Mr Rubiales also said his family suffered during the fallout from the kiss and he must now look to the future.
He wrote in his post itself: “I will defend my honourability. I will defend my innocence. I have faith in the future. I have faith in the truth. Thank you all.”
