Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales intends to resign on Friday due to FIFA's disciplinary action following his unsolicited kiss on player Jenni Hermoso after Spain's Women's World Cup victory, reports Cadena Ser radio.
In the aftermath of their triumphant 1-0 victory against England in the Sydney final, Rubiales, the embattled figurehead of the Spanish football realm, has found himself engulfed in a maelstrom of criticism.
The catalyst for this tempestuous storm was Rubiales' audacious kiss planted on Hermoso's lips as he bestowed the team with their hard-earned medals.
The incident, transpiring on a fateful Sunday, kindled an inferno of outrage that traversed both national borders and societal strata, prompting an array of voices, including government officials, to vociferously call for Rubiales' resignation.
Within Spain and beyond, the act was construed as an affront to propriety, sparking a fierce debate that showed no signs of abating.
In a swift and unsurprising turn of events, FIFA waded into the fray by launching disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales, escalating the already intense pressure.
As if scripted, Hermoso contributed to the crescendo by asserting that actions of such nature "should never go unpunished." The resonating echoes of these sentiments amplified the fervor of the dissent.
Amidst the mounting turmoil, Rubiales, whose initial response consisted of labeling his critics as "idiots," endeavored to ameliorate the situation through a video-apology that emerged late on a somber Monday.
Regrettably for him, the video's apologetic tones fell on deaf ears, leaving the tempest unassuaged.
An official from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) remained tight-lipped, offering no solace to the cacophony of opinions swirling around the controversy.
However, clandestine whispers reveal that regional RFEF leaders convened urgently in Madrid for a crisis-laden meeting. The agenda? To dissect Rubiales' prospects and ponder on potential successors.
The names hovering prominently as Rubiales' prospective heirs are Pedro Rocha, helming the Extremadura football federation, and Pablo Lozano, stewarding the Andalusia federation.
Their ascendancy to the throne appears plausible, as they navigate the intricate web of football politics.
Rubiales' journey in the world of football commenced on the pitch, playing for modest lower-league Spanish clubs before culminating his career with a stint at Hamilton Academical in Scotland in 2009.
Fast forward, and he found himself at the helm of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) in 2010, a role he held until his momentous tilt for the apex position at RFEF in 2017, emerging victorious in the elections of May 2018.
Promising a wind of change, Rubiales pledged to modernize the federation's structures, bolster transparency, and elevate its financial dynamics.
This mission stemmed from the aftermath of the arrest of the erstwhile president, Angel Maria Villar, on corruption charges, which tarnished the federation's reputation.
However, Rubiales' tenure was riddled with controversies that could rival the most captivating football dramas.
A striking instance was the shocking decision to relieve Spain's manager, Julen Lopetegui, of his duties merely two days before the commencement of the 2018 World Cup.
Further, allegations of impropriety hovered over a lucrative deal that transplanted the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
In an episode underscoring the tumultuousness of his leadership, a mutiny unfolded within the Spain women's squad in the previous September.
A formidable faction of players vehemently demanded the ousting of their long-standing coach, Jorge Vilda.
The RFEF, defying the insurrection, stood by Vilda, leading to the omission of 12 of the 15 players involved in the dispute from the subsequent World Cup squad.
As Rubiales grapples with the tempest his actions have conjured, the sporting realm watches with bated breath, waiting to witness the final chapter in a saga marked by triumphs, controversies, and a kiss that ignited a firestorm of unparalleled proportions.