Spain's soccer federation will maintain an pressing assembly on Monday as its president, Luis Rubiales, faces a FIFA suspension and a storm of criticism over allegations he gave a participant an undesirable kiss on the lips after Spain gained the Women's World Cup.

Rubiales has refused to resign over the incident with participant Jenni Hermoso final Sunday in Sydney, saying the kiss was consensual. Players and a string of coaches on the ladies's squad are demanding he go, and the federal government additionally needs him out.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has referred to as regional federations to the "extraordinary and urgent" assembly "to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself" following Rubiales' suspension, a RFEF spokesperson mentioned on Sunday.

Global soccer's governing physique FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings towards Rubiales on Thursday and introduced on Saturday he had been suspended for 3 months from nationwide and worldwide soccer actions pending an investigation.

Rubiales, 46, mentioned he would use the FIFA probe to indicate his innocence.

Rubiales performed primarily in Spain's second division in a profession spanning 12 years. When he was elected to guide the RFEF in 2018, he promised to modernise its construction, improve turnover and make the federation extra clear.

The Spanish authorities can not fireplace Rubiales however has strongly denounced his actions and mentioned on Friday it was looking for to get him suspended utilizing a authorized process earlier than a sports activities tribunal.

The uproar has are available a rustic the place gender points have develop into a distinguished matter. Tens of hundreds of girls have taken half in avenue marches in recent times protesting towards sexual abuse and violence.

Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz is due on Monday to fulfill representatives of the ladies's gamers' union FUTPRO, which represents Hermoso, and the Association of Spanish Footballers to make sure soccer is a sector "that has decent conditions and spaces free of sexist violence".

Maria Jesus Montero, appearing price range minister, mentioned on Sunday Rubiales mustn't return to main Spanish soccer.

"A person who lies, who has made a show of not having understood what the fight for equality means in an area as important as sport, cannot have the direction of football in this country in his hands," she mentioned.

Applause for Hermoso

Hermoso, who has mentioned she didn't consent to the kiss and felt "vulnerable and the victim of an aggression", has been warmly supported by fellow gamers and lots of in wider society.

She was applauded by the gang when she was noticed on a balcony with dignitaries on the Women's Cup ultimate between Atletico Madrid and Milan on Saturday night. Players on the match held a banner studying: "With you Jennifer Hermoso."

Players from Orlando Pride and San Diego Wave wore wristbands supporting Hermoso throughout their National Women's Soccer League match in Orlando, Florida, on Friday. Players in Sweden additionally wore supportive messages on wrist tape on Saturday.

All 23 of Spain's cup-winning squad together with Hermoso, in addition to dozens of different squad members, mentioned on Friday they might not play internationals whereas Rubiales remained head of the federation. Their subsequent match is away to Sweden within the Nations League on Sept. 22.

On Saturday, 11 members of the ladies's workforce's teaching employees supplied their resignations to the RFEF in a press release supporting Hermoso and condemning Rubiales. Coach Jorge Vilda mentioned on Saturday he regretted the "inappropriate behaviour" of Rubiales.

Feminist teams have referred to as an illustration on Monday in Madrid entitled "With You Jenni". Hundreds of individuals staged an illustration on Sunday in Salamanca towards Rubiales.

UN Women Spain, the Spanish department of a U.N. organisation that promotes girls's rights, has gathered a 50 signatories together with politicians, actors, enterprise folks and journalists, in a press release calling for "zero tolerance for abuse or bullying at any time or place in women's sport".

Norway's soccer federation chief, Lise Klaveness, a former nationwide participant who's the primary lady to carry the submit in her nation, mentioned "football’s journey towards inclusion, diversity, and gender equity is far from over".

"This week should have been about celebrating the exceptional performance of the Spanish team," she wrote in a press release.

"But no. Instead of revelling in the Women’s football achievements, a familiar story unfolds – the need to rally and defend players and the sport itself. A century of misogyny once again overshadows the joy of the game, the national team's pride, and remarkable performances on the pitch.”

Andres Iniesta, who won the World Cup and Euros with Spain's men's team, added his voice to the chorus of condemnation "as a father of three daughters, as a husband and as a soccer participant", telling his 42.9 million Instagram followers that Rubiales' behaviour was "damaging the picture of our nation and our soccer world wide".

Victor Francos, head of the state-run National Sports Council, has referred to as the incident a MeToo second for Spain. However, he mentioned on Saturday it will not harm Spain's bid to stage the 2030 World Cup together with Portugal and Morocco.