Rubiales refuses to quit in explosive rant over kiss scandal - ESPN

Luis Rubiales refused to resign as president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Friday, and said he will «fight to the end» after a week of growing pressure following his unsolicited kiss on Spain player Jenni Hermoso.

Rubiales, 46, announced the surprise move — after widespread reports that he planned to quit — in a speech in which he attempted to justify his behaviour, and lashed out at critics, during an extraordinary meeting of the federation's general assembly.

The president of Spain's Sports Council (CSD) and its Secretary of State for Sport, Victor Francos, subsequently confirmed that the CSD would take action against Rubiales, bringing a case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

«Do you think this [incident] is so serious that I should go, after the best management in the history of Spanish football?» Rubiales said. «Let me tell you: I'm not going to resign. I'm not going to resign. I'm not going to resign.

»I've come under a lot of pressure. Perhaps somebody will look to remove me on Monday. But we live in a country of laws. Is a consensual kiss enough to remove me? I'm going to fight until the end. I hope the law is followed, and that as there's no reason to [remove me], it won't happen."

Rubiales gave a lengthy account of his actions following Spain's victory in the Women's World Cup final, which included grabbing his crotch in the immediate aftermath of the win, and the unsolicited kiss on Hermoso's lips during the medal presentation ceremony.

«In a moment of euphoria, I grabbed that part of my body,» Rubiales said. «I was looking at [coach] Jorge Vilda. We've been through a lot this year. People have wanted to do the same to [Vilda] that people are doing to me, with a false narrative. We've