The Kiss: 'I will not resign!' says Spanish football chief Rubiales over 'consensual peck'

Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales refused to resign on Friday after a week of widespread criticism for his unsolicited kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso following Spain's Women's World Cup triumph.

Rubiales, 46, had been expected to step down as president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) after government ministers and figures within sport demanded his resignation and world football's governing body FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against him.

READ | FIFA'S Women's World Cup: Spain hero Carmona pays tribute to father who died before final

A particularly unhinged-looking Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales repeats again and again “I will not resign” following allegations of sexual misconduct connected to events that followed Spain’s Women’s World Cup final victory. pic.twitter.com/R6dUyyEA6P

 But he was defiant in a speech at an emergency meeting of the football federation.

"I will not resign, I will not resign, I will not resign," shouted Rubiales.

"A consensual 'peck' is enough to get me out of here? I will fight until the end," he added.

Rubiales said the pressure he has received this week was an attempt "to publicly assassinate me".

His words were applauded at the meeting by controversial Spain's women's coach Jorge Vilda.

Rubiales claimed he had been trying to console Hermoso, who missed a penalty in the final against England.

"She was the one who lifted me in her arms and brought me close to her body, we hugged, and I told her, 'forget about the penalty. You were fantastic, without you we would not have won this World Cup.'

"She said to me, 'you're a star', and I said to her, a peck? and she said, 'OK'."

"It was a spontaneous kiss, mutual, euphoric, and consensual," Rubiales continued.

Hermoso had released a