- Luis Rubiales kissed World Cup-winning player Jenni Hermoso on the lips
- He was also seen planting a kiss on the cheek of the goal scorer Olga Carmona
- And video emerged of him appearing to grab his crotch next to the Queen
- Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has apologized for kissing player
- The football chief had faced a wave of criticism and resignation calls after the incident
- In a video address today after leading politicians said he should quit or apologize, Rubiales admitted he had made a mistake.
The president of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales, has come in for criticism after he kissed the forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the World Cup final in Sydney.
The kiss delivered on stage during the official post-match ceremony was captured on camera and has prompted outrage on social media. Hermoso said on a live stream afterward that she “didn’t like it”.
In comments later provided to media she appeared to clarify her position, saying it was a “natural gesture of affection”. “It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings,” said Hermoso, in comments given to AFP by the Spanish federation. “The president and I have a great relationship, his behavior with all of us has been outstanding and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.”
Rubiales brushed off any suggestion that the act was inappropriate. “It was a kiss between two friends celebrating something,” he told the broadcaster COPE on Sunday, dismissing those who saw it differently as “idiots and stupid people”. He added: “Let’s ignore them and enjoy the good things.”
Reaction to the kiss continued to dominate Spanish news on Monday, with the minister of equality in the caretaker government, describing it as “a form of sexual violence that we women suffer on a daily basis and until now has been invisible,” on social media. “We can’t normalize this,” she added. Her view was backed by Nadia Tronchoni, who leads sports coverage at the newspaper. “It’s an intrusion,” she wrote. “An invasion of one’s personal space. Without consent. Aggression.”
The Socialist politician characterized it as an “absolute lack of respect and an abuse that neither the moment, nor the euphoria, nor the joy justifies”, while a spokesperson for the leftwing coalition Sumar, Marta Lois, added her voice to the many on social media calling on Rubiales to resign. Speaking on the Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser, the presenter José Luis Sastre hinted at a double standard at play. “In the hundreds of celebrations that we’ve seen between Rubiales and male players, he didn’t grab any of them by the head in order to give them a kiss without asking.” Video from the celebrations also shows Rubiales kissing other players on the cheeks and embracing them.
Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup came despite a long period of instability.
Luis Rubiales has apologized for kissing player Jenni Hermoso following his country’s Women’s World Cup final win over England in Australia. ‘At a moment of maximum excitement, without any bad intention or bad faith, what happened that happened in a very spontaneous manner, I repeat without bad faith on either side. He spoke.
(With inputs from agencies)
