The president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, has apologized for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth after Spain won the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Luis Rubiales, 45, kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips after receiving her medal, sparking an instant reaction worldwide.
“It’s true that I made a mistake and I have to admit it,” Rubiales said in a video posted on social media by Spanish television. “It happened without malicious intent in a moment of great exuberance. Here we saw it as natural and normal, but abroad it caused quite a stir.”
“I have no choice but to apologize and learn from this… and be more careful when you represent the federation,” he said, adding that he thought the furor that was created was “idiot”.
Rubiales apologizes for his kiss to Jenni Hermoso: “I’m definitely wrong, I must admit” https://t.co/12MX1QQbzS
— RTVE News (@rtvenoticias) August 21, 2023
On Monday, Spain’s sports minister demanded that Rubiales apologize.
“I find it unacceptable to kiss a player on the mouth to congratulate her”said interim minister Miquel Iceta to Spanish public radio.
“The first thing he should do is explain and apologise, it’s a logical and reasonable thing to do,” said Iceta.
The minister added that while victory over England this Sunday in Sydney was “a moment of intense emotion”, officials “need to be extremely careful because we are sending a message to society and the message is that equal rights are respect”.
Rubiales underlined this Monday that he had a “wonderful relationship” with Hermoso.
On Sunday, the player posted a video to Instagram showing the locker room festivities, in which she responded to teasing from teammates by saying, “I didn’t like it, did I!” while you laugh.
Later on Sunday, the RFEF released its own statements from Hermoso.
“It was a completely spontaneous mutual gesture, because of the immense joy it is to win a world championship”, Hermoso said. “The president and I have a great relationship. His behavior towards all of us was exceptional and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude”.
“A gesture of friendship and gratitude cannot be overemphasized. We have won a World Cup and we will not deviate from what is important.”
Preparations for the World Cup in Spain were rocked by controversy last September when 15 players emailed the RFEF saying they did not want to be called up.
The protest was mainly directed against coach Jorge Vilda and his working methods, including complaints that he was too strict.
Rubiales supported Vilda and only three of the 15 players in question were called up for the World Cup.
Source: DN
