The president of the Spanish soccer federation has issued an apology following an unexpected kiss he planted on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso during the celebration of Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory, which had sparked outrage across the nation.
This incident unfolded as Luis Rubiales, the head of the federation, awarded gold medals to the Spanish team following their 1-0 triumph over England in the final on Sunday.
In a video statement released by the federation, Rubiales expressed remorse, stating, “Undoubtedly, I made a mistake, and I must acknowledge it. It was an unintentional act during a moment of extreme excitement.”
Video footage posted on social media by El Mundo newspaper and other outlets showed Hermoso telling her teammates in the locker room that she “didn’t appreciate it.”
However, she later sought to downplay the incident in a statement sent to the Spanish news agency EFE by the federation. Her statement read, “It was a spontaneous and mutual gesture driven by the immense joy of winning a World Cup. The ‘presi’ and I share a strong relationship, and his conduct towards all of us has always been exemplary. This was simply a natural expression of affection and gratitude.”
Additionally, post-game video footage depicted Rubiales kissing other players on the cheek and embracing them while presenting the medals.
Gender-related issues hold significant importance in Spain, with the Socialist-led government having implemented various legal reforms concerning gender identity, abortion, and sex work. However, a loophole in the sexual consent law resulted in the release of rapists from prison, leading to a notable electoral setback for the far-left Podemos party, a part of the government coalition, during the July elections.
