On an ejection seat since the kiss he had forcibly made to the player Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s victory at the World Cup, the Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales must present his resignation to the assembly on Friday August 25 extraordinary general of his federation.

The one who triggered this unprecedented controversy will thus, according to the Spanish media, renounce his functions at the head of the federation which meets from noon at las Rozas near Madrid, where 140 people have been summoned.

A meeting whose holding was announced Tuesday and convened in “emergency (…) in view of the latest events that occurred last Sunday in Sydney”. According to El Pais as well as several sports media, Luis Rubiales has informed his team that he will present his resignation there as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Joined by Agence France Presse, the football federation did not confirm this information and did not wish to comment. The 46-year-old, who has been at the head of the federation since 2018, has been at the heart of a media whirlwind since he was filmed celebrating the victory of La Roja Women over England, trying to grabbing Jennifer Hermoso’s head with both hands and then surprisingly kissing her on the mouth. The player, on her return to the locker room, said during a live broadcast on Instagram: “I didn’t like it, huh! “.

Faced with the extent of the first outraged reactions, the Spanish federation had transmitted in the evening to the press declarations by Jenni Hermoso according to which it was “a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that the victory brings. in the World Cup”. Luis Rubiales had brushed aside the controversy, saying that those who criticized him were “idiots”. But a few hours later, he apologized, saying it was a gesture “without any bad intention”, adding “if people were hurt, I have to apologize, there is nothing something else to do.”

The case escalated to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez who called his action “unacceptable” and even Fifa launched disciplinary proceedings against him on Wednesday. On Tuesday evening, the RFEF had announced that due to the “urgency”, it would hold an extraordinary general meeting on Friday devoted to the subject. The announcement of the holding of this meeting was accompanied by a clarification: “In view of the latest events that have taken place (…) last Sunday in Sydney, we wish to inform you that the internal procedures of the Federation concerning integrity issues are open”.

His apologies did not extinguish the conflagration and little by little, Spanish politicians and football authorities condemned this attitude in turn. And the indignation was not confined to Spain since even the American Megan Rapinoe, one of the most famous footballers in the world, or even Amnesty International, joined the waltz of criticism and calls for her resignation.

The case eventually escalated to Fifa – known for its neutrality in social affairs – which ended up launching disciplinary proceedings against Luis Rubiales.

In the meantime, other incriminating images have come to aggravate his case, in particular those where we see him, again on Sunday, on the balcony of honor of the stadium, grabbing his genitals to celebrate the victory … a few meters from Queen Letizia .

Remained silent for several days, Jennifer Hermoso ended up on Wednesday asking for “exemplary measures” through her union. On the same day, the Professional Women’s Football League took up the issue and issued a scathing statement calling for the dismissal of Luis Rubiales, denouncing a moment of “unprecedented international shame for the Spanish brand, for Spanish sport and for world women’s football”.

Divorced and father of three daughters, Luis Rubiales, who tripled the budget for women’s football to bring it to 406 million euros in 2022, did not seem determined to resign. But the pressure increased with the approach of the general assembly, pushing him to seriously consider this option.

Still, 50% of the members of the GA must be present for it to be held, which is not won. The Basque federation and many La Liga clubs have already announced that they will not go there, due to the seriousness of the case.