Luis Rubiales has declared his resignation as President of the Spanish football Federation following criticism for kissing Jenni Hermoso, a Spanish forward at the women’s world cup final presentation ceremony on August 20, 2023.

Rubiales declared his resignation in the statement he submitted to Pedro Rocha, the Acting President of the federation.

“After the quick suspension carried out by FIFA, and of course the rest of open proceedings against me, it is evident that I will not be able to return to my position,” Rubiales’ statement read in part.

He confessed to Piers Morgan, a profound international journalist during a television show that he cannot continue with his work.

This comes after a 33-year-old Hermoso, filed a legal complaint last Tuesday stating that the kiss after Spain beat England was not consensual.

However, Rubiales claimed that, the kiss was mutual and consensual but had been provisionally suspended by football’s world governing body FIFA.

“My daughters, my family and the people who love me have suffered the effects of excessive persecution, as well as many falsehoods, but it is also true that on the street, more and more every day, the truth is prevailing,” Rubiales said.

He insisted that holding on is not going to contribute to anything positive, neither to the federation nor to Spanish football.

Rubiales hopes that his departure will boost Spain’s joint bid with Morocco and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup.