The suspension of Spain Football Federation’s chief Luis Rubiales, over a forced kiss on the lips of the country’s female national team’s forward, Jenni Hermoso after their 1-0 World Cup final win over England has prompted his mother Ángeles Béjar, to go on a hunger strike which has resulted in her hospitalisation.
The drama started after Béjar locked herself in a church in her hometown of Motril in southern Spain to protest the treatment of her son i.e the aftermath of Rubiales’ unsolicited kissing of World Cup winner, Hermoso which led to his suspension by FIFA on Saturday.
According to a local priest, Bejar started a hunger strike in support of her son on Monday, was taken to a local hospital on Wednesday after feeling tired and stressed out.
The priest, who identified himself as Father Antonio, told reporters that Béjar was taken to the Santa Ana hospital in Motril on Wednesday evening, but the Santa Ana Hospital would not confirm if Béjar was admitted. Béjar was discharged from hospital several hours later.
While Spain’s Supreme Sports Council is also seeking to have him removed from office — over his behaviour after Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win, including his unsolicited kiss on Hermoso, Rubiales was handed a provisional 90-day suspension from all football-related activities by FIFA on Friday.
Meanwhile, Rubiales has refused to resign, insisting that the kiss was consensual. This claim was denied by the player as he threatened legal action against Hermoso and her union, Futpro.
So far, Spain prosecutors have confirmed that they opened a preliminary sexual abuse investigation.
