After federation head Luis Rubiales declined to retire following his unwanted kiss on the lips of a Women’s World Cup star, Spanish striker Borja Iglesias left the men’s national squad on Friday.

The Real Betis forward, who has represented his nation on two occasions, most recently in March, spoke out against the head of the Spanish football federation (RFEF)’s decision to resign.

By seizing Hermoso by the head and kissing her on the lips during the medal ceremony after Spain defeated England 1-0 to win the final in Sydney on Sunday, Rubiales, 46, incited international fury.

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“As a player and as a person I do not feel represented by what happened,” said Iglesias on social network X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Wearing the Spain shirt is one of the best things that has happened to me in my career.

“I don’t know if in another moment I will be available again, but I have taken the decision not to return to the national team until things change, and these type of acts don’t go unpunished.

He continued by saying that he was acting “for a more just, human, and decent football.”

As he refused to back down on Friday, Rubiales spoke vehemently against “false feminism” and claimed he was the victim of a public “assassination” in an angry and defensive speech at a football federation emergency meeting.

According to the head of the federation, their kiss was “mutual, euphoric, and consensual.”