Spanish FA President Luis Rubiales has responded to criticism after an incident where he kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips following the victory of Spain's women's team in the World Cup.
In the wake of Spain's hard-fought 1-0 win against England in Sydney, Australia, which marked their women's team becoming world champions, the president of the Spanish FA faced controversy for his actions.
Thirteen years after Andres Iniesta secured victory in South Africa, Spain's women's team, known as La Roja, clinched the championship with Olga Carmona's sole goal during the first half of the match. This triumph came after a series of players had previously boycotted the national team.
Amidst the jubilant celebrations of Spain and the evident disappointment of England's talented squad, the attention shifted to Luis Rubiales, the chief of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), due to his actions.
During the medal and trophy presentation ceremony, Rubiales was on stage, embracing the victorious players who had delivered an exceptional performance. Notably, he was seen kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips.
This action sparked considerable backlash, with Jenni Hermoso, who previously played for RCD Mallorca, expressing her discomfort with the gesture in an interview with the Spanish TV station RTVE. She stated, "Eh...yeah, I did not enjoy that."
Numerous individuals also shared the sentiment that Rubiales' behavior was inappropriate. However, Rubiales himself did not appear to see anything wrong with his actions. In a video shared on Instagram live by striker Salma Paralleulo and the team, where they were chanting about Ibiza, Rubiales made a light-hearted remark: "In Ibiza, we will celebrate the wedding of Jenni and Luis Rubiales."
Jenni Hermoso, who has also played for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, participated in an emotionally charged interview on Spanish TV, during which she shed tears and used strong language to express her feelings.
Furthermore, following the final match, viewers noted an uncomfortable interaction between Lucy Bronze and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The 53-year-old Infantino had received criticism for insensitive remarks regarding the growth of women's football. Video footage captured Lucy Bronze giving him a limp handshake and avoiding eye contact, reflecting her displeasure with his comments.