“What we saw is an unacceptable gesture,” said Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during the reception of the world champions at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid on Tuesday. Rubiales’ apology was “insufficient”.
US star Megan Rapinoe also expressed criticism. The incident had “a deep level of misogyny and sexism,” she said in an interview with “The Athletic”: “What kind of upside-down world do we actually live in? On the biggest stage where you should celebrate…” The Spanish Women’s Football League called for Rubiales’ dismissal.
The association president had asked for forgiveness in a video post on social media that he had “made a mistake, I realized that,” he said.
His kiss happened “without any sick intention in a moment of maximum exuberance”. He saw it as normal and natural, “but outside it caused a stir,” Rubiales explained.
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