28 August 2023 , 09:40
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Police have turned up at the Spanish church where Luis Rubiales mum has started a hunger strike.
Officers arrived as a cousin of Angeles Bejar - the mother of under-fire Spanish FA chief Rubiales - entered the church with a doctor, just before 2pm local time. Uniformed officers from Spain’s National Police force stood outside the door to the Divina Pastora Church, which remained shut while the relative and medic were inside.
It was not immediately clear why the police had turned up, although there was no immediate suggestion they would seek to remove Luis Rubiales’ mum by force. In the latest surreal development in the ongoing saga concerning the disgraced Spanish FA (RFEF) president, on Monday morning the retired hairdresser began her protest at the church in the Andalucia coastal resort of Motril east of Malaga where the suspended Spanish FA president grew up.
Rubiales has been ensconced in scandal following his unsolicited kiss with Spain striker Jennifer Hermoso during the Women's World Cup trophy presentation. The 46-year-old sensationally refused to resign from his post, instead declaring himself a victim of “faux feminism".
The RFEF chief has been provisionally suspended for 90 days by international governing body FIFA, with the Spanish FA - who threatened legal action against Hermoso and “those falsifying reality” over the weekend - meeting for crisis talks on Monday.
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And in another surreal development, Rubiales' mother began a hunger strike in protest of the saga on Monday morning. She was accompanied by her sister, 48 hours after her son travelled to Motril for a holiday.
Angeles, whose husband is a former mayor of Motril, says she will continue her radical action until father-of-three son Luis receives “justice.”
She has also demanded World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso tells the “truth” about the kiss that led to Rubiales’ provisional suspension by FIFA on Friday.
The Spanish football boss has claimed the kiss after the end of the World Cup final between Spain and England in Sydney just over a week ago was “consensual” but the player insists she never consented to a kiss on the lips.
Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips following their World Cup triumph (Noe Llamas/SPP/REX/Shutterstock)Left-wing Spanish politicians who branded it “sexual violence” when footage of the kiss first emerged are now being supported by mainstream commentators in condemning what happened.
Mass resignations within the federation have followed, with divisive head coach Jorge Vilda's entire coaching staff announcing their departures over the weekend until the matter is resolved.
The England Women’s football team and male players like Andres Iniesta and Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez have also criticised Rubiales.
Under-fire Rubiales faces a probe from the Spanish government, who have started legal proceedings.