Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence for Rubiales in a case that sparked a debate in Spain about sexism in women's football and wider Spanish society.

The 47-year-old Luis Rubiales provoked worldwide outrage after he cupped Hermoso's head and gave her an unsolicited kiss after Spain beat England to win the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia.

The succession of scandals to rock the RFEF began in August 2023 when Rubiales forcibly kissed Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women's World Cup in Australia.

Rubiales' return to Spain came two weeks after investigators searched 11 locations.

Spanish police on Wednesday briefly arrested disgraced ex-football chief Luis Rubiales in connection with an alleged graft scandal at the RFEF football federation when he was president.

Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales must appear in court on Friday in connection with the investigation into his forcible kiss on Jenni Hermoso's lips after the Women's World Cup final.

Spain men's coach Luis de la Fuente said Monday he "respects" former football federation president Luis Rubiales' decision to resign after causing outrage by kissing a Women's World Cup player on the lips.

The already-suspended chief sent his resignation to the federation's interim president, he said in an open letter, and also explained his decision to eventually step down in a television interview.

Hermoso gave her testimony on Tuesday and the complaint will be processed "as soon as possible", the prosecutor added.

Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata read out a statement on behalf of the entire team congratulating their female counterparts on "a historic" achievement.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday that Luis Rubiales' kiss on the mouth of Spanish women's football star Jenni Hermoso "should never have happened".

The Spanish football federation's regional presidents asked suspended chief Luis Rubiales to resign on Monday after he forcibly kissed Women's World Cup player Jenni Hermoso on the lips, sparking worldwide outrage.

Prosecutors at Spain's top criminal court said Monday they had opened a preliminary investigation into Luis Rubiales' forcible kiss on the lips of World Cup player Jenni Hermoso on grounds it could constitute a crime of "sexual assault".

The mother of Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales on Monday locked herself inside a church and started a hunger strike to protest against what she called her son's "inhumane treatment" over his grabbing and kissing player Jenni Hermoso, EFE news agency reported.

"After what has happened this week I would like to convey my sadness as a person, as a father of three daughters, as a husband and as a footballer" at what has happened around "our football and around the Spanish women's national team", Iniesta wrote on his social networks.

Sevilla players paid tribute to Spanish women's team star Jenni Hermoso and the country's other top female footballers ahead of their 2-1 defeat by Girona on Saturday in La Liga.

Spain women's coach Jorge Vilda criticised the behaviour of suspended federation chief Luis Rubiales on Saturday after 81 players went on strike and the majority of his coaching staff offered to resign.

"(We) decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level," said world football's governing body in a statement, explaining it would last 90 days, pending their disciplinary proceedings.

Rubiales refused to quit earlier on Friday, fuelling anger among players and government ministers who decried his actions as unacceptable misogynist behaviour

"I will not resign, I will not resign, I will not resign," shouted Rubiales at an emergency meeting of the football federation.