A CHURCH in the south of Spain has found itself at the centre of a media storm after Ángeles Béjar, the mother of Luis Rubiales, the beleaguered president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), shut herself in the building.
Mr Rubiales has faced widespread calls to resign after kissing a player from the Spanish women’s team on the lips after the team’s victory over England in the final of the World Cup last Sunday (News, 21 August).
Seventy-three female players, including the entire World Cup-winning squad, have stated their refusal to play again for Spain while Mr Rubiales remains in post. He has faced calls to resign from across the political spectrum.
Mr Rubiales has refused to go, however, and insists that his actions during the medal presentation were consensual, contrary to the testimony of the player, Jennifer Hermoso.
According to media reports, Ms Béjar said on Monday that she would remain in the Divina Pastora Church in Motril, east of Malaga, “night and day” in protest against the “unwarranted, inhumane and bloodthirsty” treatment of her son. She reportedly went on hunger strike.
It was later reported that Ms Béjar was admitted to hospital on Wednesday, before being discharged on Thursday, accompanied by her son. A local priest told Reuters: “She had not been feeling well because of the heat and everything else. Her feet had become swollen and she was very tired. She had also become very anxious.”
Ms Béjar’s daughter was also in the church, which was cordoned off and being guarded by police. Other members of the family have protested outside, and told media that Ms Hermoso is lying.
On Saturday, the international football governing body FIFA handed Mr Rubiales a 90-day suspension. On the same day, a statement by the RFEF on behalf of Mr Rubiales confirmed that he would fight the decision, reiterating his refusal to resign his position.
Previous statements by the RFEF had purported to quote Ms Hermoso saying that the kiss had not been inappropriate, but on Friday she said that the words attributed to her had been “invented”.
“I want to clarify that at no time did I consent to the kiss he gave me,” she said.
By Monday, it seemed that Mr Rubiales was becoming isolated, after the regional heads of the RFEF released a statement calling for him to resign, describing his behaviour as “unacceptable” and having “seriously damaged the image of Spanish football”.
The incident, which was caught by television cameras and seen around the world, has triggered a wider debate about male entitlement and sexualised behaviour, and has been described as the “Spanish #MeToo” by some commentators.