Real Madrid and Barcelona's Champions League spots are at risk over the Luis Rubiales scandal, reports in Spain have claimed.
Rubiales has refused to resign as the Spanish FA’s president after kissing forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain's Women's World Cup final win over England in Sydney, last week.
And though Hermoso said on Friday she did not consent to the kiss leading to the 46-year-old being expelled by FIFA, the Spanish football federation has questioned her version of events and remarkably said it will take legal action over the Spain international’s comments.
The federation added that, if selected, players have "an obligation" to play for the national team, after 81 female players said they would not represent Spain until Rubiales is removed from his role.
In a story that has taken countless twists and turns already, it’s being widely reported in the Spanish media that Rubiales’ mother has now locked herself in a church and gone on a hunger strike over the "inhuman and bloody hunt" against her son.
Angeles Bejar reportedly told news outlet EFE that she will remain in the Divina Pastora church "indefinitely, day and night" until the situation is resolved, adding that the "hunt" against her son is "something he does not deserve".
And with Spain’s government having now begun legal proceedings seeking to suspend Rubiales, the Spanish FA have reportedly responded by urging UEFA to consider expelling them.If the request is granted it would mean all Spanish clubs, including European giants Real and Barcelona - would be excluded from all UEFA competitions.
Those competitions include the Champions League (which would also affect Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad), the Europa League (Villarreal and Real Betis) and the Europa Conference League (Osasuna).
According to Onda Cero, Rubiales' supporters in the Spanish FA are looking to attack their country's government for calling for the official’s resignation.
Indeed, the Spanish FA are reportedly calling for the expulsion on the grounds UEFA rules state “[Members] shall manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties."
UEFA rules also claimed: “Any body or decision of a body that has not been elected or appointed in accordance with said procedure, even provisionally, will not be recognized by UEFA”.
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