Luis Rubiales’ mother was hospitalized during a hunger strike over the kissing scandal at the World Cup
The elderly mother of Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales, who went on a hunger strike to protest his suspension over his World Cup kissing scandal, has been hospitalized, a local priest said.
Ángeles Béjar was taken to Santa Ana Hospital in Motril on Wednesday night after feeling tired and stressed, the cleric, posing as “Father Antonio,” told reporters.
She was discharged at 11:30 p.m. local time after being treated for leg swelling, vomiting and dizziness. Teledeporte reported.
Béjar has called off her hunger strike, the outlet added.
The dramatic hospitalization comes 48 hours after Béjar and her sister locked themselves in Motril’s Church of the Divine Shepherdess to protest Rubalias’ treatment following his kissing scandal at the World Cup.
The distraught mother was “on a hunger strike and doesn’t want to leave the church,” Rubialies’ cousin told Teledeporte at the time.
Béjar had previously promised EFE that her protest would continue “indefinitely” until the “inhumane, bloodthirsty witch hunt my son is being subjected to” was over.
Rubiales, 46, was banned by FIFA for 90 days last week after suffering serious backlash for kissing Spanish soccer player Jennifer Hermoso following the team’s World Cup triumph on August 20.
Hermoso – who appeared visibly upset during the bizarre interaction – later denied allegations the kiss was consensual, saying she felt “like a victim of aggression, an impulsive act, sexist, out of place and without any consent on my part.” ”
More than 50 players from Spain’s women’s team also signed a petition pledging to boycott the game if Rubiales doesn’t resign.
However, Rubiales insisted that the hickey was “the same as if I had once kissed one of my daughters.”
The former Segunda División defender refused to resign over a campaign he dismissed as “social assassination” and threatened legal action against Hermoso and the Futpro union.
“There is no sexual abuse, since the consent of both sides has been obtained, as the pictures show,” stressed Béjar to EFE.
“My son is incapable of hurting anyone.”
The Supreme Sports Council is now seeking the removal of Rubiales as President of the Football Association.
“[Rubiales] hurt a lot of people. He’s a person with a very high self-esteem, he’s a very conceited man and I knew he was going to get hit,” Rubalies’ uncle Juan told Hablando Claro on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Hermoso’s girlfriend, actress Itziar Castro, explained to Europa Press that the 33-year-old midfielder was “quite overwhelmed” by the controversy and is weathering the media storm with her family.
With post wires
