In the “kiss affair” about the deposed Spanish association president Luis Rubiales, 46, his mother Ángeles Béjar has now entered the stage. After Monday’s morning mass was sung, Mamá Rubiales and her sister took refuge in the “Iglesia de la Divina Pastora”, the Church of the Divine Shepherdess, in the Los Capuchinos district of the Andalusian town of Motril.
She will stay there “day and night” until justice is done for her son, declared Béjar, and also announced an indefinite hunger strike. The Spanish news agency Efe told Béjar that she wanted to protest against the “inhuman and bloody hunt” to which her son was subjected. He didn’t deserve this.
In addition to impeachment proceedings, a preliminary investigation is also underway against Rubiales
Late on Monday evening there were further developments in the Rubiales case: the presidents of the Spanish regional associations are now demanding his resignation. Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso, 33, on the lips at the award ceremony of the World Cup the day before last. Rubiales dismissed the immediate chorus of critics as a collection of “ass-stupid” and “fun-free idiots”. He later apologized halfheartedly.
Rubiales’ mother now asked Hermoso to tell “the truth” – and to stick to her original version, which confirmed her son on a central question: that she had consented to the kiss. On Monday morning, a cousin of Rubiales also appeared before the press: her aunt had sought “refuge in God”.
In her last statement to date, Hermoso vehemently denied the consent at the weekend. On Saturday, the world football association Fifa banned Rubiales nationally and internationally for a period of 90 days. At the same time, in addition to impeachment proceedings initiated by the Spanish government, the public prosecutor’s office is also investigating alleged sexual violence. On Monday, the public prosecutor’s office invited Hermoso to join the cause as a possible joint plaintiff as part of a pre-trial procedure initiated ex officio. She has fifteen days to do this.
Regardless of the outcome of this investigation, one truth is certain, which the tango legend Carlos Gardel already sang about: “Madre hay una sola”. There’s only one mother.
