Shamed Spanish FA chief's 72-year-old mum leaves hospital after panic attack

31 August 2023 , 07:37

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Luis Rubiales' mother will now reportedly have to end her hunger strike (Image: Alba Feixas/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales' OAP mum has left hospital after a health scare nearly three days into her hunger strike over the treatment of her ‘Kissgate’ scandal son.

The suspended Spanish FA chief is said to have accompanied 72-year-old Angeles Bejar after she was given permission late last night to leave Santa Ana Hospital in Motril near Malaga. She was admitted to hospital around 6.30pm on Wednesday after falling ill at Divina Pastora Church where she launched her surprise ‘no-food’ protest on Monday morning. Her whereabouts this morning was unclear.

She is understood to have left hospital around 11.30pm yesterday and is now expected to keep a low profile while her health is monitored. Parish priest Father Antonio had told waiting press yesterday afternoon the retired hairdresser would be leaving the church briefly to speak publicly for only the second time since she launched her hunger strike. But around her scheduled exit time of 6.30pm he emerged instead to make the shock announcement she had instead been taken to hospital.

Father Antonio, who declined to give his surname, said yesterday afternoon: “Angeles has got worse and so they have had to take her to hospital as a matter of urgency. She’s not at the church anymore. She was very poorly and already had a lot of problems but she took a turn for the worse and suffered a panic attack, saying she felt very anguished and dizzy and very strange.

“She left about 6.15pm via a back door of the church. She still wasn’t eating and was just drinking water and isotonic drinks but my understanding is she’ll have to break her hunger strike now. I don’t know if she is being accompanied by relatives now and how she got to hospital because I didn’t see an ambulance.

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Father Antonio spoke to the press on Wednesday (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

“But Luis Rubiales spoke to her before she went and between various relatives they decided Angeles should go to hospital. She’s an elderly lady. Her feet were already swollen but things got worse this afternoon and she became very nervous. She won't be coming back here even if she gets better."

The dramatic new turn led to a new chapter in the ongoing ‘Kissgate’ scandal - sparked by suspended Spanish FA chief Luis’ Rubiales kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after the Spanish team beat England in the Women’s World Cup final just over a week ago.

Jenni has refuted Rubiales’ claims the kiss was consensual, sparking his mum’s shock decision to go on hunger strike in her local church on Monday morning following his provisional FIFA suspension and a wave of condemnation over his actions from inside and outside the football world.

She had said on Tuesday she was prepared to die to seek justice as she urged Jenni to “tell the truth” about the kiss that is set to seal the end of her son’s career.

Protests have been held around Spain after the incident (AP)

Speaking from the inside of the church on Tuesday night as she referred to the player, she said: “I just want the truth to be told. She knows my son is very honest. If she tells the truth everything will be fixed.”

Referring to the World Cup kiss that has led to the so-called ‘Kissgate’ scandal, she added: “It was an anecdote, as she herself said, and look how far it’s gone. She should have a conscience and act according to it. My son is very worried and has asked me not to continue, to stop, but I will be here until I drop and my body can continue.”

Gerard Couzens