Spain government starts proceedings to suspend Luis Rubiales

Article here. Excerpt:

'Spain's government has started the legal proceedings seeking to suspend president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales after he refused to resign after a week of growing pressure following his unsolicited kiss of Spain player Jenni Hermoso.

Rubiales, 46, announced the surprise move -- after widespread reports that he planned to quit -- in a speech in which he attempted to justify his behaviour, and lashed out at critics, during an extraordinary meeting of the federation's general assembly.

"The government starts today the procedure so that Mr Rubiales has to give explanations before the Sport Court and if the Sport Court agrees, I can announce that we will suspend Mr. Rubiales from his functions," Victor Francos, head of the state-run National Sports Council told a news conference on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, Rubiales said: "Do you think this [incident] is so serious that I should go, after the best management in the history of Spanish football? Let me tell you: I'm not going to resign. I'm not going to resign. I'm not going to resign.'