Luis Rubiales' mother 'ready to die' goes on hunger strike over kissing scandal

Ángeles Behar says he will keep hitting as long as my body can take it' Credit: Alba Feixas/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Hunger-strike mother of suspended Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales says she is 'ready to die' after being treated for allegedly kissing a player without her consent .

Angeles Bejar, who on Monday launched a campaign in support of Rubiales at a church in Motril, southern Spain, said she would not end her fast until justice was done.

«I will stay here as long as my body can handle it; I don't mind dying for justice because my son is a decent person,» the 72-year-old told a TeleCinco reporter.

The former hairdresser reportedly drinks water and energy drinks but has stopped eating solid food in protest of her son's treatment.

Mr Rubiales, president of the Spanish football association RFEF, has been removed from his post by world football's governing body FIFA in connection with the investigation into the incident on the podium of the final of the World Cup last week, when he kissed the lips of the Spanish footballer Jenny Hermoso.

Luis Rubiales allegedly kissed Spanish soccer player Jenny Hermoso on the lips without her consent. Photo: Pixel8000

“I want the girl to tell the truth,” said Ms. Béjart, who believes her son’s version of events, in which he asked the player if she agreed to “peck,” and she answered yes.

Ms. Hermoso stated that she did not consent to the kiss and considers herself a victim of sexual violence.

The Spanish prosecutor's office launched a preliminary investigation into the incident.

Mr Rubiales, who has not spoken publicly since his defiant speech to football officials, coaches and players on Friday in which he said he would not bow to pressure to resign, effectively accused Ms Hermoso of lying. stating that she agreed to a kiss.

The RFEF statement, which was removed shortly after it was published, said that Ms. Hermoso was «kidnapped» by her union, Futpro, and Mr. Rubiales accused «false feminism» of organizing a campaign to hunt him down.

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The Spanish government has reported Rubiales to the country's sports court, but the tribunal has yet to agree to hear the case. If the court does open an investigation, the government could decide to remove Rubiales, as FIFA did.

On Monday, RFEF regional representatives met and agreed to demand that Mr. Rubiales resign.

< p>As the public debate sparked by the Rubiales case expanded into issues of male violence and female experiences in sports and other areas, Volker Türk: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, in support of Mr. Hermoso “and everyone who works to end violence and sexism in sport.”

A recent public opinion poll indicates that most Spaniards believe that Rubiales should step down because of the scandal.

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A poll conducted last week by Sigma Dos for the newspaper El Mundo showed that 71 percent of respondents were in favor of his resignation. Only 19 percent supported keeping him in office.

In a separate poll by the conservative newspaper ABC, 63 percent of respondents said they thought Rubiales should step down, while 37 percent said they against. he does it.

More than 20,000 participants took part in the survey, 70 percent of whom were men.