India and China to resume direct flights after five-year freeze
Fifa Women’s World Cup: Spain PM says football boss apology over unsolicited kiss ‘insufficient’
4:01 CAT | 22 Aug 2023
Image: El País
Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales’ apology for kissing star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Fifa Women’s World Cup is “insufficient,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday.
Rubiales, 45, kissed Hermoso as he handed the Spanish team gold medals after they beat England 1-0 in the final on Sunday in Sydney, provoking outrage in Spain. He kissed other players on the cheek or embraced them.
“What we saw was an unacceptable gesture,” Sanchez told a news conference when asked about the controversy over the unsolicited kiss.
“I also think the apologies given by Mr. Rubiales are insufficient. And I even think that they are inappropriate, and that he must go further,” the premier added.
Pedro Sánchez sobre Luis Rubiales
Le acaba de enseñar la puerta de salida. pic.twitter.com/33iueEsfYE
— AntonioMaestre (@AntonioMaestre) August 22, 2023
As the controversy over the kiss grew, Rubiales apologised on Monday in a video posted on social media.
“It was done without any ill intention in a moment of the highest exuberance. Here we saw it as natural and normal but outside it has caused a commotion.
“I have no choice but to apologise and to learn from this … and when representing the federation take more care,” he said, adding that he thought the furore was “idiotic”.
Rubiales on Monday stressed that he had a “magnificent relationship” with Hermoso.
On Sunday, the player posted a video on Instagram showing the celebrations in the changing room in which she responded to teasing from teammates by saying: “I didn’t like it, eh!” while laughing.
She later downplayed the incident in a statement released by the federation, saying it was “a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings”.
“The president and I have a great relationship. His behaviour with all of us has been outstanding and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude,” she added, according to the federation statement.
Spain’s preparations for the World Cup were thrown into disarray last September when 15 players sent an email to the Spanish federation saying they did not want to be considered for selection.
Their protest was aimed chiefly at coach Jorge Vilda and his methods, including complaints that he was too strict.
Rubiales supported Vilda and only three of the 15 were recalled for the World Cup.
Cuando alguien critique a las que decidieron salir de esta organización machista y sexista que mire estas imágenes.#RubialesDimision #VildaOut pic.twitter.com/QLU1kFtc2x
— Sergi Farré (@SergiFarr4) August 21, 2023
hopefully spain winning is exposing all this abuse on social media… and blowing up. #VildaOut #RubialesOut
for starters…this grope, by the way, was done right when spain scored!#metoo#SpainEngland #WomensWorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/W1j9quaPvh
— kirstie benedict (@kirstiebenedict) August 21, 2023
¡Es que además es esto! ¡Al lado de la Reina, la Infanta y demás autoridades… y en un escenario público en ejercicio de su cargo!
No puede estar un minuto más en su cargo. #RubialesDimisión pic.twitter.com/poSa1BuGOG— Miguel Serrano 🇪🇸 (@MiguelSerranoTV) August 21, 2023
I’m Spanish and I totally agree!! This type of behaviour from #Rubiales is unacceptable. I hope that @rfef the minister of sports @miqueliceta and @FIFAWWC react and set an example.
His behaviour from the start has been shameful. pic.twitter.com/pntXZXdl13— Joe F. M. (@JMachazek1678) August 21, 2023
Ya han pasado dos días y Miquel Iceta,Ministro de Deportes y Cultura, sigue sin destituir a Luís Rubiales,
después d haber cometido un acto q constituye la comisión d un delito¿Cuanto tardará más @miqueliceta,en cumplir con sus funciones,ante un abuso flagante hacia una mujer? pic.twitter.com/jBsbeFm7pu
— VIQUI ||☆|| (@viquirepublica) August 22, 2023
Source: AFP
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.