{"id":94215,"date":"2023-08-24T09:58:10","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T09:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/08\/24\/jennifer-rubiales-world-cup-kiss-should-not-go-unpunished\/"},"modified":"2023-08-24T09:58:10","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T09:58:10","slug":"jennifer-rubiales-world-cup-kiss-should-not-go-unpunished","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/08\/24\/jennifer-rubiales-world-cup-kiss-should-not-go-unpunished\/","title":{"rendered":"Jennifer Rubiales’ World Cup\u00a0kiss should not go unpunished"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A union representing Spain forward Jennifer Hermoso, who was kissed on the lips by Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales, says the incident should not go unpunished.<\/p>\n

Rubiales\u00a0has apologised\u00a0for the incident which followed Spain\u2019s Women\u2019s World Cup final win on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The incident has\u00a0drawn international criticism\u00a0with government ministers demanding Rubiales\u2019 resignation.<\/p>\n

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Hermoso said Union Futpro would \u201cdefend my interests\u201d in the matter.<\/p>\n

The 33-year-old had initially said on Instagram that she \u201cdidn\u2019t like\u201d Rubiales\u2019 actions after the 1-0 win over England, but a statement released later on the player\u2019s behalf defended him.<\/p>\n

On Monday, Rubiales said in a video statement that he was \u201ccompletely wrong\u201d.<\/p>\n

In a joint statement with her union and agency on Wednesday, Hermoso said: \u201cMy union Futpro, in coordination with my agency TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and being the interlocutors on this matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Futpro statement said: \u201cWe are working to ensure that acts such as those we have seen never go unpunished, that they are sanctioned and that the exemplary measures are adopted to protect women footballers from actions that we believe are unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s prime minister Pedro Sanchez has said Rubiales\u2019 actions were an \u201cunacceptable gesture\u201d and that his apology is \u201cnot enough\u201d, while Spain\u2019s second deputy prime minister Yolanda Diaz called for his resignation.<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s top-flight women\u2019s league, Liga F, said Rubiales should be disqualified after he \u201csullied\u201d the World Cup win and created \u201cunprecedented international embarrassment for Spain, Spanish sport and for women\u2019s football in the world\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has called an extraordinary general assembly for Friday \u201cas a matter of urgency\u201d.<\/p>\n

World player\u2019s union Fifpro has requested an investigation into Rubiales\u2019 actions under Fifa\u2019s code of ethics.<\/p>\n

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

In a Liga F statement confirming it had lodged a complaint with the National Sports Council (CSD) asking for Rubiales\u2019 disqualification, it added: \u201cOne of the biggest achievements in Spanish football history was sullied by the shameful behaviour of the highest representative of Spanish football.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an incident which has entered the history of world sport and, more seriously still, will forever be linked to our national women\u2019s team.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his statement Rubiales also said: \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

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