The president of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales has attracted much controversy after he kissed the lips of a member of Spain's Women's World Cup winning side.
Spain managed to get their hands on their first-ever Women's World Cup after edging England 1-0 in the final on Sunday.
Amid the jubilant celebrations, the president of the Spanish FA hugged Jenni Hermoso before pulling his head back, saying something to her and reaching for a kiss. The moment was captured on live TV and has since sparked much critique from the footballing world.
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Watch the moment below:
Me dicen que este video del presidente de la federación espaÑola de fútbol, Luís Rubiales, no hay que hacerlo rular, y lo están censurando ¿Asqueroso? Es poco pic.twitter.com/A5548h6Eyj
— VIQUI ||?|| (@viquirepublica) August 20, 2023
Hermoso is the all-time top scorer for both Barcelona and Spain and had a memorable World Cup from the perspective of personal performance, scoring three goals and creating two. However, the kiss may be a World Cup memory that she would like to forget.
The Mirror reported that Hermoso hosted an Instagram live after the match and was asked about the moment. She reportedly looked uncomfortable and said that she "did not enjoy" the kiss.
Hermoso later told AFP that she thought the kiss was a "spontaneous mutual gesture" as a result of the massive joy that came from winning the World Cup.
However, speaking to Radio Marca, Rubiales described the incident as "minor".
"The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people have a minor show of affection, we can't listen to idiocy," Rubiales told the radio.
"We are champions and that's what I'll take."
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Social media users took to the internet to express their outrage and voice their frustrations with many labelling the incident as "creepy" and "concerning".
FIFA absolutely has a responsibility of stepping in and addressing Luis Rubiales's behaviour shown at the game earlier today. The RFEF president has a pending trial over an alleged assault of a woman in 2017. FIFA, this happened at your event. Step in, protect the players.
— SHE scores bangers (@SHEscoresbanger) August 20, 2023
That was creepy af ??
— NonStopFootball (@nsf365) August 21, 2023
That was just plain wrong !!! Would he have done that to a man ??A little upset that she has walked her comments back has she been told to?
— Paul Jakes......... (@ScyFyiJunkie) August 21, 2023
That was so creepy … too often women are pressured into laughing things like this off
— Stephanie Stewart (@Stephan06358018) August 21, 2023