Luis Rubiales: Spanish football federation calls for president to resign over World Cup kiss

One of the demonstrators, Carlota Andreas, told Sky News: “I think it’s important that everyone comes here and protests against these people [in football], not just [Luis] Rubiales, everybody.

“It’s unacceptable what he did. He should say goodbye and a woman should be there [to replace him].”

Another protester, Rosario Noguira, said: “Mr Rubiales doesn’t know that Spain has changed. He has committed such a big mistake.

“Football is one of the big headquarters of the ‘machismo’ [sexism] in this country, so that’s why I think this is a ‘me too’ moment.”

Spanish prosecutors have opened inquiries into the kiss, saying they believe the facts of the case may constitute an offence of sexual harassment.

The prosecutors’ office said Hermoso now has 15 days to make a formal complaint.

It added that it had opened pre-trial inquiries because of “public statements made by Jenni Hermoso that the sexual act she experienced and was carried out by Mr Rubiales was non-consensual”.

Hermoso has said in “no moment” did she consent to the kiss.

FIFA suspended Mr Rubiales on Saturday.

In response, he said he would defend himself and has remained defiant in the face of mounting criticism, saying he is the subject of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists”.

Mother goes ‘on hunger strike’

Meanwhile, Mr Rubiales’ mother reportedly locked herself in a church on Monday and started a hunger strike over the “inhuman and bloody hunt” against her son.

Angeles Bejar told news outlet EFE she will remain in the Divina Pastora church in the southern Spanish town of Motril “indefinitely, day and night” until the situation is resolved.

She said the “hunt” against her son is “something he does not deserve”.

Mr Rubiales’ mother has requested Hermoso “tell the truth” and “maintain the version she had at the beginning of the events”.

Ms Bejar also told EFE her son “is incapable of harming anyone” and claimed there was “consent on both sides”.