Luis Rubiales’ mother locks herself inside church, goes on hunger strike

Ángeles Béjar, the mother of the president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, has locked herself in a local church.

ESPN reports she has also embarked on hunger strike in protest at her son’s treatment.

Ángeles shut herself inside the church of the Divine Shepherdess in Rubiales’ hometown of Motril, Andalusia, on Monday.

According to her, she would continue until the “inhuman, bloodthirsty witch hunt which my son is being subjected to” came to an end.

Rubiales was handed a provisional 90-day suspension from all football-related activities by FIFA on Friday — while Spain’s Supreme Sports Council is also seeking to have him removed from office — over his behaviour after Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win, including his unsolicited kiss on Spain player Jenni Hermoso.

Rubiales has refused to resign over the issue, insisting that the kiss was consensual — a claim denied by the player — and threatening legal action against Hermoso and her union, Futpro.

Béjar told EFE her protest would continue “indefinitely, day and night” until Rubiales was vindicated.

She added: “There is no sexual abuse since there is consent on both sides, as the images prove … My son is incapable of hurting anyone.”