Spain prosecutors say they have opened a preliminary sex abuse investigation into Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales.
There has been widespread criticism of Rubiales, 46, after he kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win.
The Prosecutor’s Office says it has started the investigation because “the sexual act was not consented”.
Rubiales was suspended on Saturday by world football’s governing body FIFA.
The previous day, Rubiales had insisted he would not resign.
The Spanish government has asked for Spain’s Sports Tribunal (TAD) to suspend him – a request which will be discussed at a TAD meeting on Monday.
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) has also called regional federations to an “extraordinary and urgent” meeting on Monday “to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself”.
When it announced Rubiales had been suspended on Saturday, FIFA ordered him, the RFEF and its officials and employees not to attempt to contact Hermoso, who the RFEF had threatened with legal action earlier that day.
