The mother of Spanish soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales, who faces backlash for his unsolicited kiss on player Jenni Hermoso, has locked herself inside a church and announced a hunger strike to protest her son's "inhumane treatment", EFE news agency reported.
Angeles Bejar said her strike would last "until a solution is found to the inhumane and bloody hunt they are carrying out against my son with something he does not deserve", according to EFE.
Rubiales was suspended on Saturday by Fifa following his unsolicited kiss on the lips of the national team star during the awards ceremony after Spain's World Cup win in Sydney.
The 46-year-old was also seen grabbing his crotch in the stadium’s VIP area in celebration of his country's win over England, when he was stood metres away from Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter.
According to EFE, on Monday, Bejar stayed inside the parish church of Divina Pastora in Rubiales' hometown of Motril in southern Spain.
She asked Hermoso to tell the truth and "stick to the version she gave at the beginning", EFE added.
"There is no sexual abuse since there is consent on both sides, as the images prove," Bejar told EFE as she questioned "why they're taking it out on him" and what "is behind this whole story".
"My son is incapable of hurting anyone," Bejar said.
Rubiales (46) has been defiant over the kiss, which has been condemned as unwanted by Hermoso, her teammates and the Spanish government, arguing it was consensual.
At a federation meeting on Friday where he had been widely expected to step down, Rubiales instead refused to quit, seeking to defend his behaviour and calling the kiss "spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual".
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has issued a statement for him, saying Rubiales "will defend himself legally in the competent bodies" to prove "his complete innocence".
Hermoso said she did not consent to the kiss and felt "vulnerable and the victim of an aggression".
Fifa suspended Rubiales for an initial period of 90 days. He and the RFEF have also been ordered not to contact Hermoso either directly or through intermediaries.
Hermoso has accused the RFEF of a "manipulative, hostile and controlling culture" as a total of 81 players signed a letter stating they will not accept national team call-ups while Rubiales remains in situ.
FUTPRO, the union which put out the statement on behalf of the players, has been contacted to establish whether the signatories of the letter will play for Spain while Rubiales is provisionally suspended. The world champions’ next match is scheduled to be away to Sweden in the Women’s Nations League on September 22nd.
Spain’s coaching staff, with the exception of head coach Jorge Vilda, have resigned en masse.
Vilda issued a statement on Saturday criticising Rubiales’ behaviour in Sydney, describing it as "inappropriate" and "unacceptable", but he did not tender his resignation.
Rubiales said on Friday he had been the victim of a "social assassination" and stated loudly and repeatedly "I am not going to resign" to rounds of applause at an extraordinary general assembly of the RFEF.
Fida’s decision to suspend Rubiales from all football activity means he is also currently unable to carry out his duties as a Uefa executive committee member and vice-president.
European football’s governing body has yet to comment on the case.
-Reporting by Reuters and Press Association
