The controversy generated by the kiss to Jenni Hermoso after winning the Women’s World Cup led the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, to apologize this Monday and admit that he was wrong. In a video statement, Rubiales highlighted the “historic feat” of Spain’s victory over England in the World Cup final before apologizing for what happened at the medal ceremony.
“There is a fact that I have to regret and it is what happened between me and a player, with whom I have a magnificent relationship, as well as with the others. I was wrong for sure ”, Luis Rubiales began by saying, referring to the kiss Hermosa.
Greeting the world champion, who had just received her medal, Rubiales kissed the player on the mouth to everyone’s surprise, including hers.
“I didn’t expect it either,” the Spaniard told Cope radio after the game.
However, the leader guarantees that he did not do it with “bad intentions.”
“In a moment of maximum effusiveness, without bad intentions, without bad faith, what happened, in a very spontaneous way. People who were uncomfortable with this, I have to apologize. There is nothing more to learn from it and understand that, when you are president of an institution as important as the Federation, you have to be more careful, especially in acts of this type”, added the president of the Spanish Football Federation.
These statements by the leader come just a few hours after the Spanish Minister of Culture and Sports, Miquel Iceta, described the kiss as “unacceptable” and demanded explanations from Rubiales.
“It is unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her. The first thing to do is explain and apologize. It is logical and reasonable,” defended the minister.
Iceta admitted that Sunday’s victory over England in the final was “a very emotional moment”, but in public service “we have to be very careful because we are sending a message to society and the message has to be equal rights and respect”. .
Source: TSF
