Luis Rubiales’s mother says she is prepared to die in hunger strike

The mother of under-fire ‘kissgate’ Spanish FA boss Luis Rubiales has defiantly vowed she will ‘die for justice’ as she entered the second day of hunger strike. Retired hairdresser Angeles Bejar, 72, locked herself into the Divina Pastora church with her sister-in-law Mari Carmen, early on Monday morning. Speaking from her religious refuge in the Costa resort of Motril, near Malaga, she said she would carry on her protest ‘indefinitely’ until ‘justice’ was achieved for her son and has refused all food, but is taking water and energy drinks.

‘I will stay here as long as my body holds out. I don’t mind dying for justice because my son is a decent person and it’s not fair what they’re doing,’ Angeles (pictured left) said. Rubiales has been at the centre of a storm of controversy since he kissed World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso on the lips after the final of Women’s World Cup earlier this month in Sydney. His actions sparked a global outcry, with people accusing him of both assaulting Hermoso and taking attention away from Spain’s achievement. He has also been criticised for grabbing his crotch in front of Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter Sofia, which he has since apologised for, but has defiantly refused to resign from his post as the head of Spain’s football association (RFEF). This is despite politicians and other high-profile figures in football and sport calling for him to quit, with even the United Nations wading into the row. 

‘Women in sport continue to face sexual harassment and abuse – every one of us has the responsibility to call out and challenge such abuse,’ the UN’s human rights office said in a statement on Tuesday. ‘We join Spain’s Jenni Hermoso and all those working to end abuse & sexism in sport. Make this a turning point.’ Meanwhile, in a series of WhatsApp messages with a local TV station, Angeles explained her actions, accusing Hermoso of lying about the incident that was broadcast on live television, and has since been replayed countless times. ‘I just want her [Jenni Hermoso] to tell the truth and stick to the version she had when all this started,’ Angeles said. ‘There is no sexual abuse as there is consent on both sides, as is shown in the images. Why are they being cruel to him? What is behind all this story? He is incapable of harming anyone. I believe a lot in God and I ask for the truth.’

On Monday night a crowd of around 100 locals gathered in support of Rubiales and they were joined by several members of his family. Police watched on as they chanted ‘Amore por Rubiales’ (Love for Rubiales) while others carried posters backing him and attacking Hermoso. The placards read: ‘Stop chasing against Rubiales’ while another read: ‘The truth knows only one path. Jenni be sincere’ and another said: ‘Jenni why not tell the truth.’ Among those protesting was his cousin Delmelza Ruiz who said she had wanted to come out in defence of him but she pointed her attack at Jenni. She said: ‘When a woman feels attacked, she acts differently. The lynching that is being done to an honest and loyal person is shameful.’

The whereabouts of Rubiales, who has been suspended for 90 days by Fifa, is unknown. He travelled to Motril for a holiday on Saturday despite the town hall’s cancellation of a football match he was due to take part in with friends at a municipal stadium for ‘security reasons.’ He is said to have met with some of his football pals at a country house just outside of town on Saturday afternoon, but has not been seen in public since he shocked the world by refusing to resign at a Spanish FA extraordinary general assembly last Friday. Family friend Maria Mora claimed Luis is having difficulties talking with his mum. She claimed yesterday: ‘He’s very worried, he’s having a terrible day because he hasn’t been able to speak with her and he’s feeling terrible. He doesn’t know what to do because for him his mother is the most important person in the world and she’s in that church. He can’t communicate with her or do anything with her.’

A mass is scheduled to take place at the church tonight and it is unclear whether police will return to the church today to try to persuade Angeles to end her protest. The priest is believed to have cut short his holiday but has so far refused to comment. Motril’s second-highest ranking police officer went to the church yesterday and spoke to Angeles as well as the doctor who attended her. He said afterwards: ‘She’s doing okay given her age.’ State prosecutors at Spain’s Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid have opened a preliminary investigation into the post-World Cup kiss that has shaken the world of football amid allegations it was an abuse of power and a sexual assault.

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