{"id":93692,"date":"2023-08-22T13:15:08","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T13:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/08\/22\/spanish-fa-president-apologises-for-kissing-hermoso-after\/"},"modified":"2023-08-22T13:15:08","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T13:15:08","slug":"spanish-fa-president-apologises-for-kissing-hermoso-after","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/08\/22\/spanish-fa-president-apologises-for-kissing-hermoso-after\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish FA President apologises for kissing Hermoso after"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/div>\n

Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has apologised for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

Rubiales kissed the Spain forward during the presentation ceremony following the team\u2019s 1-0 win over England in Sunday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t like it,\u201d Hermoso said on Instagram, but a statement released later on her behalf defended Rubiales.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On Monday, Rubiales said: \u201cI was completely wrong, I have to admit it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cIt was without bad intention at a time with a lot of excitement. In the moment, we saw it as natural, but outside a commotion has formed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to apologise, learn from this, and understand that when you are president you have to be more careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rubiales had been criticised by some Spanish government ministers and come under fire on social media.<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s equalities minister Irene Montero said: \u201cIt\u2019s a form of sexual violence women suffer on a daily basis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Montero added that up to now it had been \u201cinvisible\u201d and that it is something \u201cwe can\u2019t normalise\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should not assume kissing without consent is something \u2018that happens\u2019,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s sports minister Miquel Iceta told Spanish public radio it was \u201cunacceptable\u201d for Rubiales to kiss Hermoso, adding: \u201cThe first thing he has to do is to give explanations and make apologies, it is the logical and reasonable thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement released by the Spanish football federation, following the player\u2019s initial comment about disliking the kiss, Hermoso said the moment was a \u201cnatural gesture of affection\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings,\u201d said the 31-year-old, who is Spain\u2019s all-time leading scorer.<\/p>\n

Video footage circulated online after the match also showed Rubiales, who was sat in the VIP area of the stadium near Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Queen Letzia of Spain, grab his groin in as he celebrated the final whistle.<\/p>\n

Rubiales\u2019 actions were heavily criticised on social media, with \u2018dimision ya\u2019 \u2013 \u2018resign now\u2019 in English \u2013 trending on X, formerly known as Twitter, in Spain.<\/p>\n

Rubiales told Spanish broadcaster COPE it was \u201ca kiss between two friends celebrating something\u201d and those who saw it differently were \u201cidiots and stupid people\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s ignore them and enjoy the good things,\u201d he added, before offering a different view on Monday.<\/p>\n

Spanish newspaper\u00a0El Pais ran the headline\u00a0\u201cJenni didn\u2019t like Rubiales\u2019 kiss, neither did we\u201d.<\/p>\n

Spain won the World Cup despite controversy over coach Jorge Vilda,\u00a0who survived a player revolt\u00a0to keep his job.<\/p>\n

The RFEF said in September 2022 that 15 players had submitted identical emails saying they would not play for Vilda unless \u201csignificant\u201d concerns over their \u201cemotional state\u201d and \u201chealth\u201d were addressed.<\/p>\n

However, the RFEF continued to back Vilda and posted\u00a0\u2018VILDA IN\u2019\u00a0on Spain\u2019s official X account after their World Cup triumph.<\/p>\n

READ ALSO<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n