Spain hope Luis Rubiales scandal won't affect World Cup bid

Within minutes of winning a historic World Cup, Spain put in jeopardy their candidacy for hosting another. After an extraordinary three weeks, in which the former president of the country’s football federation, Luis Rubiales, inflicted huge damage on the reputation of the sport, his resignation, late on Sunday, has been greeted with wide relief and framed as a necessary step in bringing the 2030 men’s World Cup to Europe and North Africa.

Rubiales had until the weekend stubbornly defied calls from Spain’s government, from public demonstrations and from the sport’s major stakeholders, to step down; he had already been suspended by Fifa pending disciplinary proceedings against him following his conduct during and immediately after Spain’s women won the World Cup in Sydney in late August.

He kissed the striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the medal presentation ceremony, a non-consensual kiss, according to Hermoso, who said she and her family were put under pressure by Rubiales to then show support for him after the incident.

Having insisted, at an emergency meeting of the federation, RFEF, last month that “I will not resign,” while identifying and rounding on the “fake feminism” behind the broad condemnation of his actions, Rubiales eventually decided: “It is clear I will not be able to continue in the job.” In a letter posted online, Rubiales cited the potential impact of his staying in post on Spain’s joint bid, with Morocco and Portugal, to stage the 2030 men’s World Cup.

“I don’t want Spanish football to be harmed by all this disproportionate campaign and, above all, I am taking this decision because I feel sure that my departure will help lead to stability, and allow Europe and Africa to stay united in the 2030