Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been criticized for kissing Gini Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women’s World Cup.
Rubiales kissed Hermoso during the presentation ceremony after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the final on Sunday.
“I didn’t like it,” Hermoso said on Instagram, but a statement later issued on her behalf defended Rubiales.
“It is a form of sexual violence that women suffer on a daily basis,” said government minister Irene Monteiro.
Montero, Spain’s equality minister, added that until now it had been “invisible” and that it was something “we cannot normalize”.
“We shouldn’t assume that kissing without consent is something that happens,” she said.
Spanish Sports Minister Mikel Eseta told Spanish public radio that it was “unacceptable” that Rubiales Hermoso accepted, adding: “The first thing he has to do is give explanations and make an apology, it’s logical and reasonable.”
In a statement from the Spanish Football Federation, following her initial comment about her dislike of the kiss, Hermoso said the moment was a “normal emotional gesture”.
“It was a completely spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning the World Cup brings,” added the 31-year-old, Spain’s all-time leading scorer.
Rubiales’ actions were heavily criticized on social media, with “dimision ya” – “now quit” in English – trending on X, formerly known as Twitter, in Spain.
Rubiales told Spanish radio COPE that this was “a kiss between two friends who are celebrating something” and those who saw it differently as “stupid and stupid”.
“Let’s ignore them and enjoy the good stuff,” he added.
Spanish newspaper El Pais ran the headliner “Jenny didn’t like Rubiales’ kiss, and neither did we.”
Spain won the World Cup despite the controversy over coach Jorge Vilda, Who survived the player revolution to keep his job.
The Spanish Football Federation said in September 2022 that 15 players had sent identical emails saying they would not play for Filda unless “substantial” concerns about their “emotional state” and “health” were addressed.
However, the Russian Football Union continued to support and popularize Filda “Wild Inn” The official X account for Spain after they won the World Cup.