The mother of shamed Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales has locked herself inside a church and gone on hunger strike in support of her son.
Angeles Bejar demanded an end to the ‘inhumane witch-hunt’ after he kissed Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following their Women’s World Cup triumph.
Rubiales refused to stand down as president of the Spanish football federation but has been provisionally suspended by world football’s governing body FIFA.
Bejar, a former hairdresser, has locked herself in the Divina Pastora church in Motril, east of Malaga in southern Spain, and started an ‘indefinite, day and night’ hunger strike until ‘justice is served.’
Bejar demanded that Hermoso ‘tell the truth’ after the player insisted the kiss wasn’t consensual, in contrast to Rubiales’ account.
As reported by Marca, she asked ‘why are they being so cruel to him’ and ‘what is behind the story’ since ‘he is incapable of harming anyone.’
Family members arrived at the church with bottles of water at 2pm local time, looking to speak with Rubiales’ mother.
They had with them a local doctor, who refused to speak to the press in attendance or answer any questions.
They were escorted to the church door by two police, and after several minutes of knocking on the front door were allowed in. A large group of media attempting to follow in the family and the doctor were blocked from doing so by police.
Rubiales arrived in Motril at the weekend and is said to be staying locally with his daughters and has met up with friends who are ‘backing him the whole way’, according to the reports.
Rubiales grew up in Motril, in the Andalucia region, and visited there for a holiday over the weekend. Angeles’ husband is the resort’s former mayor.
It comes as the Spanish football federation holds another urgent meeting over Rubiales’ future in his post.
