Rubiales' mother goes on hunger strike in a church to denounce 'inhumane' treatment of son

The mother of suspended Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales has locked herself inside a church and began a hunger strike to denounce the "inhumane and bloody hunting" of her son, according to Spanish news agency EFE.

Ángeles Béjar has enclosed herself into the church in the neighborhood of Capuchinos in the town of Motril in Andalucía, where the family are from. 

The hunger strike is reportedly set to last "indefinitely, day and night." She also called on Jenni Hermoso, who Rubiales forcibly kissed during the medal ceremony of the World Cup Final earlier in August, to "tell the truth" and "keep the version she had at the beginning of events."

Shortly after the kiss was seen live on television by millions of viewers around the world, the Spanish Football Federation published a statement on behalf of Hermoso, attributing quotes to her that downplayed the incident. However, sports outlet Relevo published last week that those words did not come from Hermoso at all and were entirely written by the federation's communications department.

Rubiales was provisionally suspended from all football activities for 90 days by FIFA last week, a ruling which also came with the order preventing Rubiales and other RFEF members from making contact with the player. 

In addition to the forced kiss, which Hermoso has denied was consensual and for which explained that she felt like a "victim" of an assault, Rubiales was also widely condemned for other behavior at the World Cup Final, including a crotch-grabbing gesture from the VIP box, kissing other players on the cheek and carrying some over his shoulder on the pitch, and posting an apology "to those who felt hurt" that was widely criticized by many as insufficient.

In addition, Relevo also reported last week that Rubiales pressured Hermoso to appear in the apology video alongside him, while team manager Jorge Vilda is also said to have pressured Hermoso's family numerous times for the same matter. 

In response to Rubiales' refusal to step down, a total of 81 players, including the entire World Cup-winning squad, signed a joint letter announcing they would refuse to return to the international fold until there's a change in directive. The RFEF then threatened legal action against the players and the union Futpro.  

Equality minister calls for "profound changes" 

Spain's acting minister for equality, Irene Montero, has called for "profound changes" in the RFEF, assuring this is what society is demanding after the events of last week. 

When Rubiales refused to resign in an explosive speech given at an RFEF emergency general meeting, he was roundly applauded by other federation members for railing against what he termed as "false feminism" that was trying to "socially assassinate" him. 

Montero said that "the reaction of protection by colleagues" showed that Spanish society wants complete changes within the organization. 

The minister is confident that Rubiales will not be able to continue as the head of the RFEF and pointed out that this is the will of "all of society and of the players." Speaking to Catalunya Radio, she also sent her support to Hermoso, and assured that Rubiales' speech was a reaction taken "from the sexist's handbook."

Spanish acting vice president Yolanda Díaz also denounced the "structural masculinity" that looms in the federation.

General secretary of the RFEF, Andreu Camps, denounced the Spanish government to UEFA for interventionism, and this, according to Díaz, further highlights the need for changes within the organization. 

In an interview with TVE, the Sumar leader said she felt "ashamed" of the speech Rubiales gave last Friday. "A country like ours does not tolerate sexist behavior, and the impunity with which Rubiales expressed himself shows that the Federation is plagued by structural sexism."