BARCELONA, Spain (AP) 鈥 Luis Rubiales was pelted by eggs thrown by his own uncle when the former head of Spain鈥檚 soccer federation was presenting a memoir late Thursday relating his downfall after .
Rubiales was seated on a stool on a low stage when he jumped up and spun quickly trying to avoid three eggs hurled his way. One impacted on the back of his dark jacket, and another splattered against a screen behind him as he charged into the small audience.
鈥淎 man entered who I later saw was my uncle, who is a troubled man, and always has been,鈥 Rubiales told reporters. 鈥淗e had some eggs and threw some at me, but I didn鈥檛 know what he had in his hands, and when I first saw him I thought he might be carrying a weapon.鈥
Spanish media reported that the uncle was Luis Rub茅n Rubiales, an actor who has appeared in several domestic television shows.
Spanish police told The Associated Press they arrested the egg thrower. No motive was immediately given for the incident. A video shows a group of men in the audience grabbing the uncle immediately after he launched the eggs and escorting him away.
Rubiales also had a falling out with another uncle, Juan Rubiales, several years ago when Juan was working for him at the federation.
His book 鈥淢atar a Rubiales鈥 (Killing Rubiales) is a 500-page version of his professional demise after during the awards ceremony.
According to its publisher, Rubiales says he was the victim of a 鈥渃onspiracy of different powers of Spanish public life鈥 including the government and 鈥渢he profitable world of feminism.鈥
Rubiales has always denied he kissed Hermoso without her consent. After initially clinging to power amid a national uproar, he stepped down under immense pressure from the government, soccer officials, women players and fans.
Earlier this year he was found for the unsolicited kiss by a Spanish court.
Rubiales, 48, is also probing his 2020 deal to move the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
___
AP soccer:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.