MADRID, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Spanish regional soccer chiefs demanded federation boss Luis Rubiales resign for grabbing and kissing World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, as the country's caretaker government promised on Tuesday to ensure women play a bigger role in running sports.
Prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into whether Rubiales might have committed an act of sexual aggression when he grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the lips after Spain's victory in the women's World Cup in Sydney on Aug. 20.
Many of the federation representatives had initially applauded Rubiales when he announced on Friday he would not quit.
"Following recent events and the unacceptable behaviour that has seriously damaged Spanish football's image, the (regional) presidents demand that Luis Rubiales immediately resign," they said in a statement.
Acting Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz demanded the dismissal of the head coaches of both the men's and women's national teams.
Persons:
Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Hermoso, Guadalupe Martin, Rubiales, Martin, Miquel Iceta, Pedro Sanchez, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Juan Medina, Iceta, Amparo Macias, Yolanda Diaz, Inti Landauro, Mariano Valladolid, Belén Carreño, David Latona, Emma Pinedo, Charlie Devereux, Andrei Khalip, Ed Osmond, Conor Humphries
Organizations:
Prosecutors, federation's, Sports, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Soccer Football, FIFA, Spain's, Moncloa, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales REUTERS, Socialist, Labour, women's, Thomson
Locations:
MADRID, Spanish, Sydney, Madrid, New Zealand, Spain, Motril